LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, Nov. 28

Evaluating Existing Plant Material: Maintaining Plants in Good Condition


 For all landscape plants that are in good condition on your properties, and the ones that you intend to keep, set up a preventative maintenance schedule with Crabapple LandscapExperts for best performance. 


A schedule ensures that the plants will be cared for on a regular basis, and calendar dates for specific tasks can include times to  

• fertilize
• prune or thin
• treat for pest problems
• mulch
• water
• move to another location if desired

Remember, Crabapple LandscapExperts will keep your plants healthy, yet will not overstimulate growth, reducing maintenance while increasing health and beauty. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, Nov. 21

Evaluating Existing Plant Material: Plants in Good Condition


With luck, proper original design and planting, and great maintenance many of the plants in the landscapes you manage will be in good condition. Crabapple LandscapExperts are well-acquainted with how each type of plant should look and can give your plantings an annual or semi-annual once-over. 


Healthy Plant Characteristics

• Leaf size and color are appropriate
• Timing of spring leaf-out and fall leaf-drop is within acceptable limits
• Number of flowers and fruits is suitable (interesting but little-known fact: plants about to die often produce an abundance of seeds in an attempt to reproduce) 
• Rate of growth is adequate
• Plant is healthy and withstands insect and disease attacks
• Root system is vigorous, clean and expanding

Let Crabapple LandscapExperts evaluate your landscape plants to make sure they are performing their best. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, Nov. 14

Landscape Renovation: The Property Manager's or the HOA Rep's Responsibility 


Many non-plant hazards also exist in the landscape, and it is the responsibility of the Property Manager or the Homeowners Association representative to take steps to correct them before any problems occur. Preventative care by Crabapple LandscapExperts is the best and most cost-effective insurance for residential and commercial properties. 


Examples of correctable hazards:

• Insufficient night lighting
• Dimly lit or dark apartment/condo/house numbers
• Metal edging that has eased above ground
• Uneven or broken paving
• Uplifted tree roots
• Holes in lawns

With the cost of liability insurance today, troubleshooting by Crabapple LandscapExperts is a conscientious decision and a great step toward safety. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, Nov. 7

Landscape Renovation: Damaged or Weakened Trees


Trees that have been damaged are a potential hazard to residents, and it is the Property Manager's or the Homeowners Association Rep's responsibility to call Crabapple LandscapExperts to eliminate danger.

• Tree limbs partially broken by strong winds, ice or even lightning strikes may be hanging above, just waiting to fall on an unsuspecting resident
• Trees with major branches cut out (sometimes the utility companies will chop a tree to clear their power lines) may become weakened
• Upright trees with narrow branch crotch angles are subject to splitting, as is the case after strong winds with Bradford Pears planted in the 80s - 90s 
• Insect pests like tent caterpillars or progressive tree diseases such as blight can weaken a tree making it susceptible to further damage, death and toppling
• Construction cuts are sometimes made too near to tree roots and can undermine its support system. Examples are road cuts, paving, curbing, foundation or swimming pool excavation, grade changes or underground utility work

Call Crabapple LandscapExperts to set up routine inspections evaluate your landscape trees before an incident happens, and to correct landscape problems we discover. An ounce of prevention is worth a pound of cure!

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, October 31

Landscape Tips for a Safe Halloween

Before little ghosts and goblins go haunting, property managers can plan ahead for a safe holiday. On Halloween, more strangers walk up to residences in one evening than on any other day of the year, so play it safe and call Crabapple LandscapExperts ahead of time to prep your property.

● Prepare for Trick-or-Treaters by removing obstacles and anything a child might trip over on the property, including toys, bikes, hoses and lawn decorations

● Restrain dogs and other pets during the “witching hours”

● Repair steps ahead of time

● Rake slippery leaves off of paving and throw sand on slippery walks to provide traction

● Light pathways and stairs for safety’s sake

● Check outdoor lights and replace burned out bulbs

● Do not overload electrical outlets with holiday lighting

● Indirect or LED lighting can provide enough light to keep everyone safe

After trick-or-treating hours have ended (or all the candy is gone), turn off welcoming porch lights to discourage visitors. Crabapple LandscapExperts wish all our property managers and all their residents a safe and delicious Halloween!

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, October 24

Landscape Renovation: Unsupervised Climbing Plants

While groundcovers are a useful element in landscape design, overgrown or neglected groundcover vines may begin to climb up trees or invade building facades. 

  

● English Ivy can grow into mortar joints of masonry or brick walls 

● Wisteria can girdle a tree as it twines up a trunk, interfering with the downward movement of sugars (the product of photosynthesis), and starving the tree

● Kudzu (scourge of the South) can "bury" a tree in vines, preventing sunlight from reaching tree leaves, plus weighing down the limbs in wind or ice storms.

Your Crabapple Rep can select groundcovers that avoid these problems, and eliminate inherited challenges. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, October 17

Landscape Renovation: Invasion of Utility Lines

When originally planted, young trees are usually benignm but after a period of growth they may begin to interrupt the rest of the landscape. 

●  Large branches can interfere with overhead power or utility lines 

●  Wide-ranging roots may invade water or sewer lines 

●  Shallow-rooted trees can disrupt and uplift paving or parking, causing stumbling blocks in a well-trafficked landscape 

Crabapple LandscapExperts can provide custom solutions to each of these common problems. .