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4 Myths and 6 Tips for Properly Watering Your Landscaping

Written by hrcgasqt-ca on . Posted in Irrigation and Water Management, Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care. No Comments on 4 Myths and 6 Tips for Properly Watering Your Landscaping

The Truth About Properly Watering Your Lawn and Landscaping

  • Myth 1: If it rains, the drought will be over.
  • Fact: While the recent rainfalls help, they won’t necessarily end the drought. The ground is so dry it acts like a sponge, absorbing rain and preventing crucial runoff into streams and lakes. It’s going to take steady rainfall over a sustained period of time to catch up. Heavy rains over a short period of time won’t solve the problem.
  • Myth 2: Watering daily is the only way to maintain a healthy, green lawn, especially during the summer.
  • Fact: We recommend watering your lawn deeply and infrequently to promote a strong root system. A total of one inch a week is enough for our area. Over-watering is just as bad for landscapes and can cause wasteful (and harmful) run-off. Call us if you are interested in speaking to an irrigation company or are interested in installing a sprinkler system.
  • Myth 3: The best sprinklers shoot high, fine sprays, which mist your landscape without wasting water.
  • Fact: Just the opposite. The best sprinklers throw large drops of water low to the ground rather than misty sprays that allow water to evaporate quickly. If you have an automatic sprinkler system, you’ll really impress your neighbors by replacing your timer with an evapotranspiration (ET) controller. These smart controllers monitor information about soil moisture, rain, wind and evaporation so your system only waters when it’s truly needed. Traditional timers require manual adjustments every time the weather changes. ET controllers use real-time data from local weather stations to make adjustments automatically and can reduce water use by about 30 percent.
  • Myth 4: Keep your lawn short. Shorter grass uses less water, so you don’t need to water as much.
  • Fact: Let your grass grow. Raise your lawnmower blade to a height of at least 3 inches. A taller lawn will help shade your soil so it requires less water. When you let your grass grow taller, its roots grow deeper, and you’ll have a healthier lawn. If you need help with landscape or lawn maintenance, for your home or business, give us a call. We are a Huntsville landscaping company, but we work all across the country providing the best work you can imagine.

Basic Tips:

  1. Water your lawn deeply and infrequently to promote a strong root system. An inch a week is all you need.
  2. Operate your in-ground sprinkler system manually—don’t use the timer. Check sprinkler systems frequently for directional aim and broken heads to prevent watering driveways, sidewalks and streets.
  3. Use plenty of mulch in your beds—especially during a drought. Consult an expert at your local nursery or home improvement store on the optimal amount and type of mulch needed in your area.
  4. Choose “water-wise” plants like lantana and Mexican sage. Ask your local nursery or landscape professional for advice.
  5. Raise your lawnmower blade and cut grass to a height of at least 3 inches—this shades the soil, which reduces evaporation and allows roots to grow deeper.
  6. Use soaker hoses instead of sprinklers to water trees, shrubs and beds more efficiently.

It may not seem like much, but every time you practice one of these easy tips, you’re not only using water more efficiently and wisely, you’re helping make water supplies last for your community.

4 Simple Tips for Effective Summer Lawn Care

Written by hrcgasqt-ca on . Posted in Landscape Design, Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care. No Comments on 4 Simple Tips for Effective Summer Lawn Care

Cut your lawn higher in the summer, it helps the blades retain moisture and puts less stress on your lawn.

With summer in full swing, everyone is mowing their yards and we wanted to provide you with some great tips to keep your lawn in the best shape and make it look like it was done by a professional lawn service.

Summer Lawn Care Tip #1: Mow

How and when you mow your lawn is a critical component of Summer lawn maintenance.

  • Mower Height: A mowing height between 2.5 to 3 inches is best for most of the season when mowing fescue grasses, except during summer stresses when the lawn mowing height should be raised one-half inch to mow at 3 to 3.5 inches. Raising the mowing height provides more insulation from summer heat and reduces water loss from your soil. Bermuda and Zoysia should be cut weekly as low as possible without scalping it.
  • Grass Length: Be sure not to let your grass grow too long, because removing more than one-third of the total leaf blade height at one time could stress your lawn. Keeping your lawn mower blades sharp helps to protect the grass from lawn diseases. A dull mower blade shreds or tears the tips of the grass, leaving the grass vulnerable to lawn disease.
  • Grass Clippings: Many homeowners are confused about what to do with their grass clippings. Mulching and returning your clippings to the lawn returns nutrients and does not contribute to thatch. The only times it makes sense to collect clippings would be if you had a severe disease and you did not want to further contaminate the lawn, or if the leaf clippings are too long.
  • Mow Wet? Or Wait? If you have the dilemma of deciding whether it’s better to cut the grass when it’s wet or let it get too tall, it’s better to cut it when it’s wet. Although this can create some clumping with your clippings, it’s better to get the grass cut, and remove the clippings rather than letting the grass get too tall. Do not mow a wet lawn if you have lawn disease in order to minimize the spread of many diseases including red thread, dollar spot, patch disease or other lawn fungus diseases.

Summer Lawn Care Tip #2: Irrigate

Like mowing, watering your lawn may sound easy enough, but many homeowners are unsure about the best frequency and amount of watering is required as a part of their total summer lawn care program. The amount of water your lawn requires can vary depending on weather conditions, soil drainage and the amount of sun or shade in your landscape. A good rule of thumb is to ensure that your summer lawn receives approximately one inch of water per week. You may use a rain gauge or a container to determine how much water you need to supplement any rainfall. If you don’t have the time, or are often out of town, landscape irrigation may be the right option for you.

Summer Lawn Care Tip #3: Identify and Treat Lawn Diseases

A professional lawn care service can survey your landscape to spot any dangers for early lawn disease and to identify the best types of weed control products or other lawn care treatments to ensure a healthy, green lawn throughout the summer.

The most common types of summer lawn diseases are dollar spot (Bermuda), brown spot (Fescue), and Zoysia patch. Patch disease is another common type of summer lawn disease, but the infection doesn’t become obvious until the plants go into stress, so preventive treatment as a part of your lawn care program is important.

Summer Lawn Care Tip #4: Control Weeds

An important component of a summer lawn care program is weed control. Quality weed control starts with an inspection of your turf in order to spot unwanted growth early on. There are two basic types of lawn treatment for weed control in your landscape: pre-emergence weed control treatments and post-emergence treatments. Your lawn specialist will develop a program that addresses your personal preferences and integrates carefully targeted treatments for weeds such as crabgrass and other problems in your lawn.

Water Your Lawn…When?

Written by hrcgasqt-ca on . Posted in Irrigation and Water Management, Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care. No Comments on Water Your Lawn…When?

Tips to properly water plants and lawns to avoid wasting water and to keep your landscape at optimum health!

Follow the advice of Southern Scape: Huntsville’s best landscaping firm!

Water properly to promote plant health and avoid runoff, the tips are easy and easy to remember.

  • Check soil moisture before watering. This will prevent over-watering, and might save you wasted time.
  • Water plants during the early morning rather than during the heat of the day or in windy weather. Avoid watering in the evening because it often will not allow enough time for your lawn to dry before nightfall. And a moist lawn at night will promote fungus growth that is not good for your lawn.
  • Use drip irrigation and soaker hoses to deliver water only where needed.
  • Use mulches on the soil surface to conserve moisture, control weeds, and maintain a uniform soil temperature. Mulch has many uses and values, it is not just to beautify your planters, though it definitely does that as well.
  • Discourage root and crown diseases by watering established trees and shrubs at their drip line. Watering trees and shrubs at their trunks is just wasting water, and can endanger your trees and shrubs!

Irrigation Scheduling, when to water your plants, trees and shrubs.

  • The amount and frequency of water needed varies greatly, depending on plant species and soil conditions.
  • Newly planted trees and shrubs need more frequent watering for up to two growing seasons until they become well rooted.
  • Once established, plants can be weaned to tolerate less frequent watering. Proper weaning develops deep roots and helps plants better tolerate drought.
  • Proper weaning develops deep roots and helps plants better tolerate drought.
  • Water established trees, shrubs, and ground covers deeply but infrequently. In the absence of rain, most trees and shrubs benefit from a once-a-month thorough watering.
  • Normal lawn watering is not a substitute for the thorough watering required by the deeper roots of trees and shrubs.

Those are some simple tips that will make a big difference in maintaining your landscaping!

5 Tips to Increase the Value of Your Home by 15%

Written by hrcgasqt-ca on . Posted in Landscape Construction, Landscape Design. No Comments on 5 Tips to Increase the Value of Your Home by 15%

With the Spring Tour of Homes continuing this weekend in Huntsville, AL and with so many people putting their homes on the market in the Spring, we wanted to offer some tips to spruce up your property and increase its value.

Landscaping is one of very few home improvements that will actually allow you to get all of your investment back and more. With the proper planning and the right improvements, you can easily double or even triple your investment in your landscape when you are ready to sell. And if you don’t plan to sell, a well-maintained landscape will make living in your home an even greater joy.

Decorative, yes, but your home’s landscape also matters for financial reasons, as well. The right landscape can increase a home’s value by 15%, according to the Association of Landscape Contractors of America.

Most people think that “landscape” simply means plants. But consider the many other elements outside of your home: decks or patios, walkways, outdoor entertainment spaces, outdoor kitchens, parking areas, fences, and hardscapes–all contribute to the way your home presents itself to the world. If any of these elements are chosen without proper care, they can create a variety of problems, from lessening your home’s curb appeal to releasing toxic chemicals, increasing the likelihood of flooding and polluting the environment.

Exterior improvements are one proven way to enhance your home’s curb appeal. In addition to decks and patios, well-planned and colorful landscaping can offer added attraction value.

Here are 5 basic tips on ways to wisely invest in landscaping improvements:

1. Plush Lawns:

Perhaps the most value-added feature of a home’s curb appeal is a plush, well-manicured lawn. Find out what variety of grass grows best in your area. Be sure to adequately fertilize, and water your lawn regularly.

2. Seasonal Colors:

Be sure to plant a number of perennial plants and flowers. Add short-lived flowers each Spring for additional color.

3. Trees and Shrubs:

Well-placed trees and shrubs can make a huge difference in the allure of a home’s exterior. Check with your local nursery or give us a call to determine which trees grow best in your area and climate.

4. Consult with a Landscaping Designer:

A worthwhile investment is to utilize the services of a Landscape Designer. A professional designer can provide a well-conceived master plan that is custom to your property. You can elect to have the actual landscaping improvements performed by contractors, or simply do it yourself.

5. Pavers and Stepping Stones:

Another great feature used in landscaping are pavers and stepping stones. Design a walkway through your yard or garden using slate stones or colorful pavers. Add a small bench to create a quiet retreat for reading.

Top 8 Mosquito Repellent Plants for Your Huntsville Landscape

Written by hrcgasqt-ca on . Posted in Landscape Maintenance. No Comments on Top 8 Mosquito Repellent Plants for Your Huntsville Landscape

With such a mild winter in North Alabama, we are sure to have an abundance of pests flying around this summer. Did you know some common plants that grow well in Huntsville and North Alabama can do a lot to help naturally repel mosquitoes, spiders and other pests? Anytime you can keep the mosquitoes away naturally, it is safer for you and your family. Take some time to add the plants listed below to your gardens and flower beds and you might help avoid insect bites and could potentially avoid the West Nile virus or heartworms for your pets.

  • Lemon Thyme – Here is one of your best bets when it comes to plants that repel mosquitoes. It has 62% of the repellency of DEET which is the most common compound used in commercial insect repellents.
  • Catnip –This herb repels both the mosquito and the cockroach. If fact it has roughly ten times more mosquito repellency than DEET.
  • Citronella Grass – Citronella Grass is the source of the well-known Citronella oil that is used in a number of commercial insect repellent products.
  • Marigolds – To get the mosquito repelling properties that you are looking for from your marigolds they must be the African or French variety.
  • Basil – This herb is not only wonderful to cook with but it is a repellent of mosquitoes and flies.
  • Sage – This herb repels flies, moths, and beetles as well.
  • Rosemary – It is commonly known to repel fleas and mosquitoes.
  • Geraniums –It is also commonly called the mosquito plant and is sold as a repellent. One problem with this geranium is that it is poisonous so it is not recommended for those with pets or young kids.

If you would rather not get in the garden yourself, give Southern Scape a call and we can do the work for you and spruce up your landscaping. And if you don’t want to do either, just wear some light colored clothes and avoid being outside during the hours around dawn and dusk when mosquitoes are out in abundance.