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Posts Tagged: lawn care

Fresh Holiday Greenery Guide

 

Introduction

The holiday season brings a magical ambiance filled with enchanting scents and the vibrant appearance of fresh greenery. Cedar, pine, spruce, mistletoe, and boxwood are not just decorations; they’re essential elements that add a unique charm to the festive season. In this comprehensive guide, we’ll explore effective practices to preserve the freshness of these holiday greens, ensuring they remain vibrant throughout the season.

  • The Charm of Fresh Holiday Greenery:
    The appeal of fresh holiday greenery lies in its captivating scent and the visual delight it brings. The rich green hues of cedar, pine, and spruce and the timeless elegance of mistletoe and boxwood create a festive atmosphere, transforming any space into a winter wonderland. To maintain this allure, preserving the moisture within the foliage is crucial.
  • Preservation Techniques for Prolonged Freshness:
    Adopting effective preservation techniques is essential to extend the vibrancy of cut greens in your home.  The preservation process begins with the simple yet impactful step of recutting the stems and immersing the greenery in water overnight. This practice applies to cut boughs, garlands, and wreaths, and can be efficiently executed using a galvanized tub or your bathtub. For arrangements in water, an additional method involves recutting the stems and introducing glycerin into the water. The recommended ratio of 1 part glycerin to 1 part water ensures that the needles of the greenery remain soft and pliable. Glycerin, a readily available substance at your local drugstore, becomes an asset in preserving your holiday greenery’s natural texture and freshness.
  • Glycerin: A Natural Preservative for Holiday Greenery:
    Glycerin, a versatile and readily accessible substance, is a game-changer in preserving the beauty of your holiday greenery. Besides maintaining needle softness, glycerin is a natural humectant, helping the greenery retain moisture. Its application is simple, making it an ideal solution for enhancing the longevity of your festive decorations.
  • Anti-Transpirant Spray: A Protective Shield for Your Greenery:
    An additional and highly effective strategy to retain moisture in holiday greenery is using an anti-transpirent spray readily available at garden centers. This specialized solution acts as a protective barrier, preventing excessive moisture loss and enhancing the overall freshness of your greenery. Applying the spray protects against environmental factors, ensuring your holiday decorations remain vibrant throughout the holiday season.

Conclusion:
Preserving the freshness of holiday greenery is not just about aesthetics; it’s about creating a lasting and memorable festive ambiance. By adopting simple yet effective practices such as stem recutting, water immersion, glycerin application, and the use of anti-transpirent sprays, you can ensure that your cedar, pine, spruce, mistletoe, and boxwood decorations remain vibrant throughout the holiday season.

Incorporating these preservation techniques into your festive preparations guarantees a visually stunning and enchanting atmosphere that captures the true spirit of the holidays. May your holiday season be filled with the timeless beauty of fresh greenery, creating cherished moments and lasting memories for years to come.

 

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Winter Lawn Care: Protect Your Grass from the Chill

 

Protect your lawn from winter kill caused by extreme cold. Discover preventative measures to safeguard your grass from harsh temperatures. As temperatures drop, we bundle up while our lawns face the brunt of the cold. While most lawns adapt to winter, severe temperature drops can lead to what’s known as winter kill.

Although entirely preventable, there are steps you can take to fortify your lawn against frigid conditions. Let’s explore the various forms of winter lawn damage and discuss how to prepare your lawn for the colder months ahead.

Does Grass Perish in Winter?

  • During winter, your lawn enters a dormancy phase—akin to hibernation. With shorter days and limited sunlight, plants conserve energy to endure freezing temperatures and lack nutrients. While your grass might appear discolored and thin, this dormancy period shields it from harsh winter conditions, allowing it to flourish green and lush year after year.
  • How Cold Weather Affects Lawns: Ordinary winter weather prompts dormancy, with your lawn bouncing back in spring. However, extreme cold or prolonged snow cover might lead to significant winter lawn damage.
  • Winter Kill and Other Damages: Winter kill, the most concerning damage, occurs when plants die due to harsh winter conditions. While cool-season grasses handle the cold better, various factors such as grass type, location, and prolonged cold influence your lawn’s health.
  • Identifying Winter Damage: From ice damage to snow mold, different types of damage can affect your lawn:
  • Ice Damage: Thick ice layers suffocate grass by preventing oxygen access and hindering water absorption, leading to potential winter kill. Adjusting fertilizer for warm-season grasses before the frost can minimize new growth susceptibility.
  • Desiccation: Cold, dry winds dehydrate grass, potentially causing winter kill. Maintaining a regular watering schedule in the fall can reduce desiccation.
  • Snow Mold: Prolonged snow cover can lead to a fungal lawn disease. Shortening grass height before winter and removing snow piles can prevent snow mold.
  • Crown Hydration: Repeated thawing and freezing cycles can cause ruptured cell membranes, visible as discolored turf in poorly drained areas.
  • Preventing Winter Damage: Planning in the fall with proper watering, mowing, and fertilization can help your lawn withstand winter.
  • Reviving Your Lawn Post-Winter: While winter may leave your lawn discolored or sparse, solutions exist. BestYard Secrets stands ready to help your lawn flourish come spring.

 

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Plant in Fall. Enjoy in Spring!

  • Plant fall bulbs now for spring color.
  • The fall months, specifically September and October, are the best times to plant bulbs for a colorful display next spring.
  • To break out of their dormant state, bulbs need 12 – 14 weeks of cold temperatures (below 45 degrees).
  • There are many different bulbs to choose from including; tulips, daffodils, crocus, and alliums.
  • You can plant the bulbs individually or in a mass to create a more vibrant display.
  • Water well when you plant the bulbs in fall as this will stimulate the roots to begin their growth.
  • Keep the soil moist over the winter and continue throughout the blooming period as necessary.
  • It is a good idea to mulch the soil where you have planted the bulbs.
  • Mulch will keep the soil from drying out and help moderate soil temperature so it does not warm up too quickly.

 

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Don’t let your yard sparkle

A favorite family activity each 4th of July may be to have a sparkler and write something in the sky!

Most people usually throw the used sparkler on the ground and forget about it.

  • Do not do that! It is bad for your lawn!

Get a bucket of water!

Fill your bucket with water and have everyone put the used sparklers straight in the water instead of burning holes in your lawn!

If you have any lawn damage after your night, call a professional lawn care expert.

Stay away from trees!

Stay as far away from trees as possible!

  • Fireworks can be unpredictable, so the more room you have to light them off, the better!
  • A fire started in a tree will not only ruin the tree but can easily spread to other parts of your lawn or even your house.
  • Fireworks contain chemicals that can affect your lawn if left there too long.
  • Make sure to clean up all debris left behind.

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Protect your lawn when it snows

It is that time of the year again, the snow has started.

But when you break out the shovel do you ever forget where your walkway or your driveway ends, and your lawn begins?

It is important to protect your lawn against winter. Lawn care is still needed during the winter months.

Mark your lawn

  • As you shovel you want to make sure you are not hurting your lawn.
  • Putting markers around the edges of your lawn will help you identify where your driveway ends, and your lawn begins.
  • This will prevent you from hitting your lawn and digging up the soil.
  • Shoveled snow is heavier than normal snow, so make sure you do not have any precious plants in harm’s way.
  • Identifying the area of your lawn will save its edges from snow removal tools.

Snow is a good thing

  • Snow acts as an insulator for roots and protects your lawn.
  • The blanket of snow provides water for your lawn.
  • It is best to keep an eye on your fragile plants and try to avoid putting extra snow on top of them.

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

Time for a mid-summer makeover

garden area plants

Now is a good time to refresh garden areas, as some annuals have likely begun to fade. Choose some perennials that will tolerate the hot days still ahead and bring color to your garden for the rest of the growing season.

  • Gardens are where plant science and art come together. Start by selecting plants that will grow in Colorado’s harsh hot and cold climate and that need very little water. Then select the ones you will plant based on their aesthetic value-color, texture, size, shape.
  • Some plants have colorful blooms while others offer interesting texture or foliage. Because they grow to different heights, taller plants will be best as a backdrop to other plants while short ones should be placed along borders and mid-sized ones should be placed between the two extremes. Consult a landscape professional or local garden center for recommendations for your landscape conditions.
  • Here are a few recommendations, including some from Plant Select®, which offers low-maintenance plants that are well-suited to Colorado’s unique climates.
  • Purple coneflower (Echinacea purpurea) – This low-maintenance, drought-tolerant flower features colorful blooms that pollinators love.
  • VERMILION BLUFFS® Mexican sage (Salvia darcyi ‘Pscarl’) – This North American native features red flowers that attract humming birds.
  • Engelmann’s Daisy (Engelmannia peristenia) – These bright yellow daisies are tough perennials that can adapt to most conditions—just don’t put them in a very shady spot.

Enjoy perennials for the variety they offer in phases throughout the growing season.

Click “DO IT FOR ME” to request a FREE quote.

Source: customer-service@bestyard.com in collaboration with Associated Landscape Contractors of Colorado

 

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