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May 2014
 Earthadelic News 

    

Earthadelic is proud to have received an A+ rating from the Better Business Bureau (BBB)! This rating is based on 16 factors, including our history of having no complaints filed against us with the BBB. Check out our rating here.

 

This winter Knoxville experienced two record highs of 76� and 73� F on December 6th and 22nd respectively, and a record low of 2� F on January 7th. We also had a record streak of lowest high temperatures. Aren't we glad it's spring?

April Gardening Tips 


It's time to:

* Apply 2nd turf pre-emergence herbicides treatment

* Fertilize, deadhead and weed flowers as needed

* Prune and fertilize azaleas within two weeks of bloom completion

* Mow and edge turf, and fertilize exhibiting poor green-up (use iron for a greener color)

* Trim beds and prune shrubs as needed

* Treat turf or shrub insects or disease infestations if necessary

* Remove tree suckers and vines from shrubs

May Means Pools!

 

Earthadelic crews will begin servicing contract customers' pools soon. If you're not a current contract customer and would like to find out how to get on the schedule, give us a call at 865-806-1125.

Need Help?


Checkout all the services we offer:

 

Hardscapes  

 

Landscape Design and Maintenance 


Lawn Maintenance 


Pool Decks, Renovation and Maintenance 


Water Features 
The Secrets of Water Gardening
by Mike Martin
So you're finally taking the plunge! You're putting in a beautiful 16' x 20' pond and   you'll have 40 feet of stream with wonderful cascading waterfalls. You're so excited - and who wouldn't be - but before you move ahead, you need to understand the term "ecosystem."

 An ecosystem represents living organisms, their physical environment and all their interrelationships. As part of a landscape plan, they are very low maintenance, crystal clear and absolutely gorgeous! In order to have one that functions properly, there are five key elements that must be in place:

  1. Mechanical filtration is a skimmer that keeps the pond surface clear of debris and a biological filter keeps your water crystal clear;
  2. Plants range from water lilies to rushes to cat tails;
  3. Fish are typically Japanese koi;
  4. Rocks and gravel provide expanded surface area for the proper bacteria to colonize upon; and
  5. Bacteria protect the pond liner from UV exposure.

In their proper proportions, all of these elements create a very natural and stunningly beautiful water feature that you and your family will love an   d e njoy. If this is your first water feature, I highly recommend seeking the advice of an experienced professional like Earthadelic who will guide you smoothly through the proper construction techniques and ensure your satisfaction.

 

Every year at this time, I'm always asked to go on consultations where my client has a water feature that was installed and has turned green, or its overrun with string algae, or the water is so clouded you can't see the bottom, much less the fish. In the lion's share of these cases, the problems stem from the pond biology being out of balance. Proper and professional installation from the "get go" ensures your expectations are met and creates a lifetime of wonderful memories.

Digging In On Our Harsh Winer & Assessing the Damage

by Steve Polte

 Wow, what a winter! It wasn't just cold. It was severely volatile with many days having at least a trace of wintry precipitation.

 

Assessing the Damage It appears we're finally on the warm side of the winter/spring transition and I've got a few pointers on how to assess winter plant damage, what to do about it and how to prepare your plants for future winters. Most of us have noticed the out-of-the-ordinary, post-winter condition of many of our landscape plants. Some of our broad-leaved evergreens sustained leaf burn from the sustained cold, especially on the west/windy side of the plant. This is caused by desiccation, or drying out, when water leaves the plant faster than it enters. On warm windy days, water evaporates from plants at a high rate. When these co nditions are followed by freezing nig  hts, the roots are no longer able to deliver water to the plant, which results in leaves drying-out and turning brown. Also, you may notice split bark or stems, especially at the base of the plant. This damage occurs when warm day temperatures are followed by hard freezes. Severe splits at the base often result in plant mortality. In addition to these issues, we may also see reduced flowering this spring and summer due to bud damage caused by late season freezes.

  

Care after Damage It's very important to be patient. Many dead-looking plants are still alive. You may have noticed your loropetalum, crape myrtle, and Carolina Jasmine slowly and seemingly reluctantly beginning to flush. I suggest you wait until early June before removing/replacing dead plant material or pruning dead matter in surviving plants.

 

Winter Preparation Most importantly, grow plants that are winter-hardy in our area (hardiness zone is somewhere between 6b and 7b). Also, avoid pruning or fertilizing plants in the fall, which may stimulate new growth that will not have time to adequately harden before winter. Additionally, proper mulching provides perennials and shrubs effective insulation for roots to endure cold winters. Finally, it is important that your plants are adequately watered in late summer and fall so they enter the potentially cold, dry winter months of December-February property hydrated.

Customer Showcase  

 

The Puckett Outdoor Kitchen & Landscape Project

The Objective: (1) integrate our client's grand vision with our own by taking a basic, dysfunctional back yard and creating an outdoor materpiece complete with a large scale kitchen, grill room, and patio; (2) design and install a new driveway, parking area and entrance to the front of the house; and (3) design and install a sloped landscape to accentuate the entire back yard space with a colorfully animated garden and plenty of privacy.

 

The Challenge: The back door steps were difficult to negotiate while carrying items in and out of the house, and the sloped back yard needed creative and unique terracing that accommodated mature trees.

 

The Design Solution: After a careful analysis of the peculiar characteristics of the property, Earthadelic first mapped out a grading and drainage plan to address the slope challenges. Once the elevation contours were revised, a retaining wall and steps were woven into the perimeter of the two-tiered patio footprint. Then the main driveway and parking extension were connected to the back patio by blending colors and materials in a functional and attractive fashion. Finally, smooth transitions were accomplished using accent stripes, circular patterns and a second patio tier for the grill.

 

The Installation Approach: Grading the Puckett site was a major part of the initial phase of work. Establishing timing for and coordinating the next phases was key, as setting the site's layout and base material were to happen in the same step. Once the patio and walls were in place, it was time to spice it up with an extra-large countertop and grill area covered by a sizable pergola finished with rough cedar. The slope was landscaped with a mixture of unique evergreens and flowering shrubs accentuated by boulders for relief and texture. Later, the entire setting was woken up by professional lighting to offer striking nighttime effect. 
  
The Result: A seasoned craftsman of both construction arts and outdoor grilling, Mr. Puckett was delighted with the finished product. He said, "I've waited my entire life to have this typ e of outdoor luxury. I have spent the last five years planning this to be the way I wanted it and I couldn't ask for it to be more perfect."

 

 

 
Going Green with Composting
by Jason Murrell
 People seem to be unaware of the consequences of their behavior sometimes, and    this is especially true when it comes to how we manage waste. We throw away a tremendous amount of "stuff" that clogs landfill sites when we could compost some of those materials and provide vital nutrients to our garden soil. Let's look at a few composting tips that can make our lives simpler and keep our gardens growing bigger and healthier.

 

First, be sure to research some of the common household items  you can and can't compost. Next, be aware that an essential aspect of composting is heat, which ensures materials break down properly. Also, your compost pile needs a certain critical mass maintain its heat; a cubic yard is ideal. If this size is not sufficient to accommodate your waste production, then you could extend one side to create an oblong bin at no more than 3-4 feet high. Another alte rnative would be to have a multiple compost bins so that you always have one ready and the other in process.

 

Compost bins come in several forms, including preformed plastic bins (some rotate to speed up the process) and kits for assembly at your home, or you can even design and build your own fairly easily. If you plan to build a compost bin yourself, start by finding a relatively level area of land approximately three feet square. Assemble a structure to hold your waste within this square using materials such as treated lumber or chicken wire. Be sure to make the front section of your bin detachable to ensure you can easily access your finished compost.

 

Once you have your bin in place, it's important to remember the compost ingredients must be stacked in layers. Start by putting a layer of coarse material at the bottom for drainage. Avoid concentrations of any one material, and keep your pile firm and damp. As your pile grows, add a layer of manure or soil approximately every six inches to provide beneficial bacteria to spur the compost process. Cover your pile with a tarp or other device to trap moisture and heat. Turn the pile occasionally to keep it well mixed for even decomposition. It takes approximately six months to complete the process. The finished product can be used in many ways to get wonderful nutrients to your plants and gardens.

 
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