Landscaping Hints

A Lawn That's Maintenance-Free? That's Impossible!

2010-02-26T22:13:00.005-05:00

Have you ever paid an expensive bill to your landscaper, or applied harmful fertilizer to your lawn and wondered why you need grass at all? Does it seem like no matter what you do the grass is literally greener on the other side? Well do I have news for you!

What if I told you that there was a way to grow a lush, green lawn (greener than your neighbors' lawn year-round) that required NO watering or fertilizing and little to NO mowing. And what if I told you that this lawn would be more durable than regular grass, so it could grow in shady, hilly or rocky areas that regular grass can't. Are you dying to know the secret already?

Alright, I'll tell you. The secret is a little grass seed called Pearl's Premium. Developed by a Massachusetts resident who was tired of all the maintenance that his lawn required, not to mention the carbon footprint that having a lawn required. So over the last decade, he has studied grasses and developed a grass seed mix of native and adaptive grass seed. This little grass seed will grow roots of 12 inches deep - as opposed to the standard 2-3 inch roots of regular grass - giving it the durability and adaptivity of a no-maintenance lawn. Not only do these long roots mean that the grass never needs water, or fertilizer, the grass will not grow higher than 4 inches, so depending on your personal taste, it will need to be mowed once per month (as opposed to weekly with standard lawns) or not at all! For hotter, desert climates in the southern US, the grass will need some watering, albeit very little.

Does it still sound too good to be true? Visit our website www.LawnAngels.com/PearlsPremium.html for more information. Inquire today and we will guarantee that you won't be disappointed.

Salt, Sand and Ice Melters

2009-12-17T14:24:00.004-05:00

Ahh snow season. The time when beautiful clean white flakes float softly on the ground and dusts everything with a soft shimmer. That is until cars drive over it, and people walk on it, until the white snow becomes a wet, grimy mess.

Wouldn't it be nice if the salt your company used in the parking lot didn't rust your car or track across your carpets? Lawn Angels of Wayland uses a new ice melter that has unbelievable benefits. It's specially-formulated to melt ice even better than regular salt, melting ice at lower temperatures, but it leaves less mess than sand, which has to be cleaned off your lots later. This ice melter will leave parking lots free of ice and snow. It remains where it is applied, meaning it won't stick to shoes and track into buildings across your carpet and flooring. It is less harmful for plants and contain Anti-Corrosion agents, which reduces damage to your vehicle. Finally, it does not irritate skin, making it safer for pets to walk across.

Think this sounds too good to be true? Call Lawn Angels today and find out how amazing our specially-formulated ice melter is and what we can do to keep your parking lots safe and clean this season.

Top 10 Fall Clean Up Mistakes We Make

2009-09-30T10:24:00.003-04:00

With the start of cooler temperatures and the approach of Winter, many homeowners give up on their lawn. What's the point of caring for a lawn that will soon be covered by snow anyway? Below are the top 10 mistakes people make that create a damaged landscape come Spring:
10. Preparing too Soon
Yes, the weather is getting cooler and the kids are back in school, but that doesn't mean that the weatherman is predicting snow tomorrow. Doing a Fall Clean Up too soon, will only mean that you'll have to repeat the chores several times. Wait until most of the leaves are on the ground before your Fall Clean up is done, otherwise you'll be raking every day this Fall.
9. Leaving the garden hose outdoors.
When preparing for winter, most people don't think twice about the garden hose. It's meant to stay outdoors, right? Well, not exactly. In the summer, that hose was durable enough to hold dormant water and kinks. But as the plastic gets hard in the freezing temperatures, that hose is less flexible and those things will develop holes. Come Spring, that holey hose will be next to useless.
8. Leaving diseased plants and rotted fruits and vegetables in the yard.
It is true that those unsightly items will disappear under the snow, but they are also an excellent home for bacteria, and insect eggs during the winter. That unsightly plant will become an even grosser mess in the spring.
7. Not cleaning out gutters.
In the Fall, your gutter becomes home to many fallen leaves, which then clog your gutter and prevent it from working as snow piles on your roof and melts. The result is too much weight on your gutter, which can cause it to break or fall off. Just don't forget to wait to clean them out until after all the leaves have fallen or you're not doing yourself any favors.
6. Not trimming trees.
Branches that hang over your roof or power lines may be fine now, but once they are weighed down by snow, they can cause more damage than you bargained for. Just make sure to consult with your landscaper, because overtrimming trees or trimming them too close to a frost can seriously damage your tree.
5. Turning off the outdoor water supply too soon.
With New England weather, not turning off the water supply is just asking for a pipe to burst. But if you stop watering your lawn too soon, and you could kill the grass, just when it was getting strong. With the sunlight and cool weather of Fall, grass roots grow deeper, preparing for the hard winter. This is the time when grass gets strong, which means it's important to water up until the first frost.
4. Not Mulching
We are so quick to mulch in the Spring, to enhance the look of our landscape, but mulching in the Fall is important as well, because mulch provides more to your garden than just looks. Mulch in the cold weather will insulate plant beds, regulate the temperature, and provide important nutrients.
3. Not Fertilizing
As the roots grow deeper into the soil, preparing for winter, fertilizing your lawn now will further strengthen the grass, so it will be stronger in the Spring.
2. Not Raking or Dethatching
Leaves that are left on the lawn become matted down under the snow. This can cause them to smother the lawn, allowing no air to get to the grass.
1. Worrying About Every Last Leaf
Although you do not want a bed of leaves to suffocate your grass, leaves can provide nutrients, so don't worry if you raked and then your tree decided to drop its last few leaves. This will actually be good for your lawn.

Will Spring Ever Have Sprung?

2009-03-14T22:05:00.002-04:00

As the month of March comes in like a lion and goes out like a lamb, and as the snow melts off our lawns, we see that this last winter has taken quite a toll on the grass and plants. Brutal ice storms have damaged trees and shrubs, and the abundance of snow has left the grass a wet, muddy mess. In preparation for Spring, there is plenty we can do to ensure that our gardens once again become a beautiful landscape.
Step 1: Prune trees and shrubs. Broken limbs should be cut where the limb meets the tree trunk in a clean cut.
Step 2: Spring Clean-ups. Raking debris off grass, removing tree limbs that broke off during the winter and sweeping dirt off sidewalks will allow your plants to grow better and stronger. It will make room for new growth.
Step 3: Begin weeding early, while the weeds are easy to pull out and have yet to spread.
Step 4: Fertilize lawn to stimulate growth.
Step 5: Install mulch to reduce weeds and lock moisture into soil.
Step 6: Consider installing a deck or patio in order to enjoy your beautiful landscape.
Step 7: Relax and enjoy the upcoming warm weather!

Winter is Approaching!

2008-10-14T11:28:00.003-04:00

As the leaves change and fall, and the temperature gets cooler, it's difficult not to feel that winter is rapidly approaching. With all the wonderful things winter does have to offer, it also means careful driving, bundling up, and having to shovel the snow off the walkway.

Wait, why worry about shoveling snow to get to work in the morning, when you could have it all done for you? Lawn Angels of Wayland can plow snow from your driveway, shovel your steps and walkway, and apply salt or sand on the ice. And for your company, we'll have that parking lot, ice and snow free by the time you pull in to work. That way, regardless of the storm, you can wake up late, head out to your car and be on your way to work, while all your neighbors are still digging their car out of the snow. Better yet? Use all that extra time to go skiing or skating with the family. Now that sounds like a fun winter to me.

Selling Your Home

2008-10-06T21:03:00.006-04:00

It's a hard time to be selling your home. Many people I know have had to accept offers under the property's value, or haven't received any offers at all. That doesn't mean you won't be able to sell it, it just means you're going to have to fight to get your house seen and sold, and landscaping can be a big selling point.

Check your Appeal at the Curb
You have to sell your home from the second it's seen on the street and an intriguing landscape will make the home more memorable and appealing. After all, you want the first impression of your home to be inviting and well-kept.

The Power of Landscape
Believe it or not, high-quality landscaping can add from 5 to 15% to the value of your home. In fact, landscaping is one of the most effective and easiest way to increase the real estate value, better than most other home renovation projects. And it's the only home improvement that will actually improve over time. Studies have shown that mature trees can make the home more easily sold. Let Lawn Angels put some of these landscaping tips to work, and get your house sold!

Sweat the Small Stuff
Keep the grass mowed and bushes trimmed, make sure overgrown plants aren't covering your house number. Paint your house exterior and wooden fences. Get your windows power-washed and refinish the asphalt on your drive. Clean edges between the grass and mulch makes the property look clean. Fertilizing your lawn can make it greener and plenty of color will make your lawn look fresh. Create depth by scattering plants throughout the lawn to give that "away-from-it-all" feel. And give your home privacy by putting up a fence or planting trees or bushes.

Make It Memorable
Many buyers are attracted to a low maintenance landscape, so opt for the native plants rather than the overly exotic. Waterscapes, such as a pond, fountain or waterfall, can be very striking and soothing. Especially recently, people are loving the "outdoor room." A patio or deck to enjoy nice weather - when we have it in New England - is a great selling point. And as we approach the colder months, don't excuse your lawn, because a buyer won't. Hardscapes, such as retaining walls or evergreen trees, will maintain interest and depth to your lawn when colorful plants can't.

Desperate Times Doesn't Mean Desperate Measures
Speak to a Landscape professional who can walk you through the best sell for the exterior of your home in the price range you want. Look at it as marketing for your home.

It's So Easy Being Green

2008-10-03T14:30:00.003-04:00

These days, everyone seems to be "going green." Light bulbs are using less energy, we're bringing our own bags to the grocery store, even cleaning has become better for the environment. But as I peer out my window, I think, what about that one thing in our lives that really should be green?

That's right, I'm talking about your lawn. It's probably not as green as it could be, and I don't mean the grass.

Getting a "Greener" Lawn

Did you know that specifically placed plants in your yard can make your home more fuel-efficient? Of that good irrigation can save you on your water usage? Landscape Construction owner, Andrew Blank, of the MetroWest Massachusetts company Lawn Angels of Wayland gave me some tips about "going green" with the landscape.

Use Plants Native to the Area

Native plants require less watering and chemicals to make them grow. Not only are they easier to maintain, but they will also cut your water usage. Low spots in your lawn, which tent to get muddy from rainwater, will benefit from native plants that can survive wet conditions, allowing the water to slowly seep back into the ground.

Irrigation and Gutter Downspouts

With the right irrigation system, you can collect rainwater to water your plants. What better way to water your lawn than the way nature intended? And the best part is, with a drip system, you won't even have to think about watering.

Get a Stone Garden

Stone gardens, popular in Japan, were part of Buddhist monks' spiritual practice. These easy-care gardens are the perfect combination of design flexibility, beauty and durability.

Plants Really ARE "Green"

Plants can cool your house in the summer by shading it from sunlight, and hold the heat in during the winter by blocking wind. Not to mention, plants will provide your property with cleaner air. Why not make your first step to "going green" be with your landscape?