Using Bark Mulch in your Landscaping

Now that Memorial Day is behind us, it’s time to get outside and start working on sprucing up your yard.  There are so many things to do, fertilizing, spring clean-up, planting…it can be overwhelming.  One quick and easy way to enhance your landscaping to is to add or freshen your bark mulch.

There are several benefits to using bark mulch, including:

  • Attractive, gives your landscaping a more finished look
  • Economical
  • Holds in moisture
  • Inhibits weed growth
  • Protects plants against temperature extremes
  • Stays in place does not blow or wash away easily
  • Slow to decay
  • Easy to apply and remove

It is important that bark mulch is not applied too thick.  If it is more than 3-5” thick, water might be absorbed by the bark itself rather than reaching the surrounding plants roots.  It is also important to lay mulch flat rather than mounding it up around the base of plants.

Landscape Solutions carries bark mulch in both a light and dark color variety.  We use bark mulch rather than wood mulch because wood breaks down faster and can be more susceptible to insect damage.  Bark mulch also holds its color longer.   We recommend that bark mulch is reapplied every 2 years.

If you have any questions about bark mulch, call 920-420-8054 or email today.  We offer delivery and can spread bark mulch for you.  Landscape Solutions serves the Fox Valley area including Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Neenah and Appleton, Wisconsin.

bark

Dethatching your Lawn

Spring is finally here. It is time to start thinking about turning your brown lawn into a lush, green one. Getting your yard ready for warmer days and summer doesn’t have to be difficult. In addition to starting a lawn fertilization program, removing excessive thatch is an easy and effective way to revive your lawn after a long winter. The ideal time to dethatch is in spring.

Thatch is built up layer of tightly woven plant material that lies on top of the soil and underneath the visible grass. Thatch develops naturally as grass grows and sloughs off roots, shoots and leaves. This layer of thatch can prevent water, oxygen and nutrients from reaching the roots. Removing this excessive layer will encourage your lawn to thicken up and can also help prevent diseases.

If you have any questions about dethatching your lawn or would like your free, no obligation estimate, call 920-420-8054 or email today. Landscape Solutions serves the Fox Valley area, including Fond du Lac, Oshkosh, Neenah and Appleton, Wisconsin.

4 step Lawn Care Fertilization Program

Caring for your lawn can be overwhelming.  What do you use, when should you apply it and do you even have time to do it yourself?  Fertilization doesn’t have to be complicated and proper fertilization will help to create a stronger root system, making your lawn healthier and better able to deal with the stresses of summer including drought and foot traffic.

Landscape Solutions believes  that a 4  step lawn care fertilization program  is the most effective.  We are often asked why we use a granular fertilizer when some of our competitors use a liquid fertilizer.  We use a granular fertilizer because it is extremely effective and offers a slow release of nutrients over time, therefore requiring fewer applications.  Don’t let those other companies talk you into paying for applications than you need!

Below are the ideal times to fertilize your lawn, and what the treatments should include.

  1. The first application is done in early spring.   This treatment consists of a granular fertilizer that will help your lawn green up and recover from the winter.   We also apply pre-emergent crabgrass control which will establish a barrier that will not kill existing plants, but will prevent weeds from growing.

  2. The second application is done in late spring/early summer.  This treatment consist of a slow release fertilizer containing iron+ nitrogen, which helps improve color and density, and an application of broadleaf weed control.   This application will help prepare your lawn for the stress of summer.

  3. The third application is done in late summer.  This treatment consists of a slow release granular fertilizer and also contains broadleaf weed control.  This seasonal fertilizer will help promote a healthy root system and will prepare your lawn for fall and winter.

  4. The fourth and final application is done in late fall.  This is a slow release fertilizer for winterization of your lawn and also includes a spot treatment of weeds.

Landscape Solutions’ 4  step lawn care fertilization program is designed to keep your lawn thick, green, healthy and weed free.  Call or email today to receive your estimate.

Landscape Solutions 4 Step Lawn Care Fertilization Program

 

Fall Yard Clean-up

It’s that time of year again. Fall clean-up time. Your lawn has been aerated and over seeded, you have done your fall planting and now it is time to start thinking about cleaning your lawn up and getting it ready for winter. Proper fall yard maintenance lowers the risk of plant diseases next spring. Here are a few steps you should take now to give your yard a head start next spring.

1. Rake leaves. This will prevent the heavy, wet foliage from suffocating the lawn.

2. Trim and prune bushes and shrubs by removing any dead or damaged stems. It is also a good time to shape and size the plant.

3. Cut down perennials within 2 -3 inches of the base of the plant. This is also the time to divide the root ball and replant any plants that have overgrown. Cutting back the plants prior to transplanting can help reduce shock to the plant.

4. Clean gutters to remove all of the leaves and branches to help prevent ice dams.

If all of this seems daunting, or you just want to relax and enjoy the season, we are here to help you prepare your lawn for winter. Call or email for more information and to receive your free estimate.

 

leaves

Fall Planting

It might not seem like it, but fall is a great time to plant.  In some cases, it is even better than spring or summer.  Trees, bushes, perennials and bulbs can all be planted in the fall.  In fact, we are typically out planting until the first snow fall.

Wisconsin winters are rough, but hot and dry summers can be even harder on plants.  In the fall plants enter a dormant stage, meaning that the plants require less water.  The air is cool, the soil is still warm, and the likelihood of drought is low.  Roots will grow until the first frost, giving them the chance to establish themselves before the summer heat.

When planting trees, it is a good idea to wrap the trunks late in the season to prevent frost cracks, sunscald and animal damage.  Just be sure to remove the wrap in the spring.  While most trees and shrubs prosper when planted in the fall, fall planting of evergreens poses more of a risk.  This is because evergreens lose more moisture from the needles they hold through the winter than their roots can replace.

This is the time of year (the only time of year) to plant any spring flowering bulbs like tulips or daffodils.  Spring-blooming bulbs need a period of cold dormancy to bloom.  It is important to make sure that you are planting the bulbs at the appropriate depth so the roots don’t freeze with the first frost.

So what are you waiting for?  Get out there.  Enjoy beautiful colors, and the cool, crisp air and plant.  As always, if you don’t know where to start, or don’t feel like doing the work yourself, Landscape Solutions is here to help – just call or email.

Fall TLC for your lawn

School is back in session.  Football season is underway.  Leaves are slowly starting to change colors.  Ready or not, fall is here.    It might not seem like it, but fall is the perfect time of year to give your lawn a little TLC.  Summer can be brutal on your lawn.  It is hot, dry, and don’t forget about the abuse it takes from being trampled on by the kids.  Lawn aeration and overseeding are relatively simple and inexpensive steps that  will help lawn recover, ensuring a healthier lawn next spring.
How will aeration and overseeding help you ask?  We have put together a brief explanation of both as well as the benefits.
Lawn Aeration is the process of removing small cores of soil from your lawn.  This helps to loosen compacted soils and promote root growth.  Aeration also makes it easier for water and nutrients to reach the root zone.  Plugs that remain on the lawn will freeze and  break down after thawing in the spring.
Overseeding is exactly what it sounds like, adding seed to the lawn to thicken the lawn or fill in bare spots.  A thick, lush lawn not only feels and looks better; it acts as a natural weed barrier.  A thick lawn will help crowd out weeds.    Fall is the best time of year for this because soil temps are still warm and the air temp is cooler.   Seeds will be able to more effectively retain moisture during this time allowing for better germination.
Landscape Solutions offers both of these services.  Lawn aeration starts at $45 and the average cost for overseeding is around $100.  Call or email for your no obligation estimate.  Our service area includes Oshkosh, Fond du Lac and the Fox Valley area.

Can summer really be over?!

Can you believe that it is already Labor Day weekend? The unofficial end of summer. Seriously, where did the time go?! This may have been the fastest summer. Ever. Luckily for us, landscaping season doesn’t end when kids go back to school. We are typically able to keep our crew going until the first snowfall, which we are hoping is awhile away yet!

While you might not have time to have a patio installed before your party this weekend, it isn’t too late to have a patio installed this fall so you can be ready for next summer.  A paver brick patio, or natural stone patio can turn your so-so outdoor living space into something much more unique and elegant.  Paver patios are not only beautiful, they are virtually maintenance free and are very resilient to these tough Wisconsin winters. Another benefit to paving bricks is that they can be configured into nearly any shape to accommodate your backyard. Call or email today for more information on having your dream patio installed. You might be surprised on just how affordable it is.

We hope you enjoy this Labor Day weekend with family and friends.  Sit back and relax, and enjoy the last little bit of summer.


2012_James Backyard Firepit edit

Paver Patio

SONY DSC

Landscape Solutions has a blog!

Welcome to our new blog! We would like to start off by giving you a little bit of our background. The man behind Landscape Solutions, Michael Kirsch, was born and raised in Oshkosh, WI. After graduating with a Business Degree from the University of Wisconsin-Oshkosh, Michael decided to turn his love of the outdoors and landscaping into a career and  Landscape Solutions was founded in 2006. Since then, we have grown from a one truck operation to now having several full time crews.

Landscape Solutions specializes in lawn and landscape design, installation, and maintenance. We can also design and install hardscapes, such as paver brick patios, walkways, fire pits, retaining walls, and outdoor living spaces including outdoor kitchens and built in grills. Our service area includes Oshkosh, Fond du Lac, Appleton and the surrounding Fox Valley area.  No matter your needs; large or small yard, complete redo or just sprucing up your mulch, we can help.

So,  that is us in a nutshell.  We are excited to use our new blog as a tool to share some ideas and information with you.  Be sure to let us know if you have any questions or if there are any topics you might like more information on.  Enjoy!

Welcome to Landscape Solutions!

Welcome to the brand new Landscape Solutions blog! We just had a website “makeover” and we hope that you like it. We have updated our photo galleries, streamlined the site to make it easier to navigate, and also had it optimized for mobile and tablet use.

Each week in our blog, we want to bring you news about Landscape Solutions, plant or lawn tips, or just some interesting landscaping news. We hope you will check back often. You can also like our Facebook page, follow our Pinterest page, or check out our idea book on Houzz.