SPRING ARRIVES TUESDAY @ 8:06 PM | It has been a long and variable winter with periods of rain, snow, and ice. Hopefully we can all put that behind us as Spring arrives tomorrow. Don't put it past Mother Nature to dish out a little bit more winter but spring, then summer, will be here soon. We are diligently working to prepare. There is always work to do in the landscape, but spring is the most exciting time to see plants come to life, leaves come back to trees, most plants blooming, and everything growing again. Let’s pause and enjoy the landscape coming into bloom. | |
SPRING ISSUES AND PRIORITIES | |
The warm weather in January started many lawns growing. However, the cold February slowed most to a stop. We are now beginning to mow, as needed, depending on weather but don’t want to get distracted as we have other winter priorities we want to finish up. We won’t mow on, or right after, rainy days to avoid damage from rutting. March is always a challenging month for mowing so it will be variable, based on weather. Weekly mowing will begin sometime in April. | |
REJUVENATION PRUNING CONTINUES | |
As we have been discussing all winter, there are likely some shrubs in your landscape that naturally grow larger than the location they are planted allows. In keeping them pruned to the appropriate height, many shrubs get out of hand and too big over time. To correct this, we recommend rejuvenation pruning to bring them back into size. This can sometimes be achieved by thinning pruning, but other times they need to be cut down to the ground and allowed to regrow at a shorter height and more naturally. The problem is that when we make the cutback, it looks like we killed the plants. However, they almost always grow back and look much better by the end of the season. | |
Through the winter, we spend much time cleaning up and removing all the leaves and other organic debris in shrub beds. Unfortunately, some trees, including most oaks, have yet to drop all their leaves, extending this work into early spring. Part of this work is to keep sites looking cosmetically clean, but also to prepare shrub beds for pre-emergent weed control application and re-barkdusting. | |
SEASONAL COLOR MAINTENANCE | |
Due to challenging winter weather with excessive rain through the winter and cold weather in January, pansy plantings have struggled. We have been fertilizing and treating diseases. Fortunately, most are recovering. Pansies are starting to grow again, and the bloom should be spectacular over the next 2 months before it’s time to change out to summer flowers. | |
IRRIGATION SYSTEM ACTIVATION SERVICE | |
As wet as it is outside now, irrigation season is only a month or two away. We have been busy for the last month despite winter weather and will continue through April to get our system serviced and ready for the irrigation season. We will start irrigating as early as April 1st, but normally irrigation season starts in May. If you see the sprinklers on in the next month, it is likely because our staff is on site turning on your system for the season. | |
SHRUB BED PRE-EMERGENCE WEED CONTROL | |
As we finish our winter shrub bed clean up and pruning, we apply pre-emergence weed control to keep weed from germinating. This process uses products considered to be low impact by the state of Oregon and approved for use around schools. We apply with trained certified applicators and follow label instructions for mixing, application, and use protective safety equipment to protect our employees. This is a critical and timely part of our maintenance program as weeds are a big concern for our customers and much more efficient than pulling. You can’t pull a weed until you see it and our customers do not want to see it. | |
We highly recommend applying bark dust on sites every other year. Bark dust decomposes over time. Replacing regularly is a great way to control moisture and weeds. Reapplying also makes your project look dramatically better when maintained on an every other year basis. However, its appearance fades with time as does its water saving and weed control properties, requiring re-application. | |
We promote and, upon approval, perform moss control during the winter on the majority of lawns we maintain. Moss is very aggressive due to our dark, wet winters. Our recommended program is treating every winter, which we are wrapping up, followed by another application in the early spring. The second application will begin in April. | | | | |
