LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, December 31

What to do with your old Christmas tree?  Best Practices

Chipping and shredding discarded Christmas trees is a best practice.

Christmas is winding down. After enjoying a live, cut Christmas Tree (and supporting GeorgiaChristmasTreeGrowers.org) there is the challenge of disposal. 

CrabappleLandscapExperts maintain a large green recycling program to turn trimmings and yard waste from the properties we manage into rich brown compost that can be added to flower beds or used as a nutritious organic mulch. Read more about how Crabapple LandscapExperts upcycle green material. 

Find a Christmas tree recycling program in your municipality and contribute to the solution. 

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, December 24

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Watering Tools Needed

Hose – 5/8 inch, non-kink, rubber hose

Water-Breaker Nozzle -- nozzle produces a gentle flow like a shower for deep hand-watering of roots, particularly excellent for keeping transplanted material moist

Water Wand -- extends reach

Sprinkler – oscillating sprinkler selected to cover required area, adjustable left, right, center or overall (not to be used during heat of the day) 

Timer – reliable timer to shut off sprinkler after a designated time period. Timers range in sophistication from simple and inexpensive wind-up versions, to battery-operated computer controlled

(See your Crabapple Rep to discuss an: automated in-ground watering system)

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, December 17

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Tools Needed to Move Plants, Soil, Mulch, Supplies

Wheelbarrow with Solid Tire -- single wheel makes maneuvering easy, solid tire never goes flat and reduces repair

XL Double-wheeled Barrow -- for hauling lightweight but bulki materials such as straw, pinestraw, mulch

Garden Cart -- 4-wheeled cart for hauling heavy statuary, equipment

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, December 10

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Pruning Tools Needed

Bypass Hand Pruners – fine pruning, removal of crossing branches, maintains graceful shape of the plant

Ratchet Lopping Shears – 2-handed pruners for thicker stems and branches, ratchet provides extra power to get through 2-inch branches

Pruning Saw – cutting through small limbs

Pole Pruner – reaching branches high up in shrub or tree

Hedge Trimmer – create smooth topiary surface in small-leaved evergreen shrubs

Traditional Butterfly Bonsai Shear – fine cuts that redirect branching in herbaceous perennials, small shrubs

Bonsai Convex Cutter – remove branch at base, leaving smooth cut that readily heals over without stubs or scarring

Sharpening File – essential to have sharp pruning tools

Alcohol or 10% Bleach Solution – sanitation between cuts to prevent spread of disease

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, December 3

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Digging Tools Needed

Pick -- useful for breaking through hardpan

Round point, long-handled Garden Shovel – primary digging tool for all-around general digging

Flat Garden Spade – for edging and outlining

Spading Fork – flat tines for digging, separating  

Hand Trowel – small handtool for planting bulbs, annuals, veggies, groundcovers

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, November 26

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Backfilling the Planting Hole

The main reason for digging a wide planting hole is so we have plenty of soil that can be “fluffed up” or turned and aerated for backfilling around the root system or root ball. 

Where formerly a variety of organic materials were added to the backfill soil, Crabapple LandscapExperts follow current agricultural research recommendations for best practices and simply disturb an area two to three times the diameter of the root ball in width to produce a zone of well-aerated native soil that plant roots readily grow into in the month or two following planting.

LandscapExperts Tip of the Week, November 19

Executing a Landscape Renovation

Planting Container-Grown Large Trees and Shrubs

CrabappleLandscapExperts check the root systems of container-grown trees and shrubs Before we plant a tree that has been grown in a pot, we make sure that no major roots are circling or “girdling” the trunk.

This problem could eventually kill the tree. As tree and roots continue to enlarge in diameter, the root would eventually cut off the circulation (called translocation in plants) restricting the upward flow of nutrients and water from the roots and the downward flow of elaborated carbohydrates from photosynthesizing leaves.

If girdling roots are found, we do not purchase that tree, and in pre-existing planting we cut through to eliminate the problem.