Tempe Landscaping Company, Corona Landscape, Provides Winter Tips for Arizona Homeowners
Tempe landscaping company, Corona Landscape, has outlined several suggestions for winter landscaping. At this time of year, homeowners need to cover sensitive plants at night, fertilize over-seeded lawns, and apply pre-emergent weed control.
“Winter maintenance is every bit as important if you want to have a healthy, great-looking landscaping all year-round,” said Ed Bambauer, owner of Corona Landscape. “Cold weather requires you do some special things to protect your lawn and plants so they’ll return healthy in the spring.”
In Maricopa County, the average first frost date varies from November 21 to December 12; and the last frost date ranges from February 7 to April 3. Although frost-sensitive plants should be covered when temperatures drop, homeowners should be careful not to over-protect plants.
Also, homeowners who have over-seeded their lawns with ryegrass to keep their grass green during the winter months need to fertilize. By applying a thin layer of organic fertilizer each winter month, homeowners can add appropriate nutrients to insure healthy growth.
Finally, landscape maintenance usually requires regular weed control. One of the most effective ways to control weeds is to apply pre-emergent herbicide that prevents unwanted growth. Pre-emergent works best when applied at appropriate intervals.
By following these simple tips, Arizona homeowners can help create and maintain a healthy winter landscape that will transition well into next year’s growing season.
Phoenix Landscape and Horticultural Services Safety
Phoenix Landscape and horticultural services encompass a wide range of services. Included in this category are companies that engage in Phoenix landscape design, soil prep and grading, irrigation systems installation and maintenance and tree, shrub and grass planting. Phoenix landscape and horticultural services also encompasses landscape maintenance, arborist services which include tree trimming and line clearance.
It is important as a homeowner to ask your Phoenix landscape company if they are complying with all safety regulations and wearing personal protective equipment to ensure no one gets hurt on the job or any underground utility lines are damaged while they are providing services on your property. For more information on Phoenix landscape safety, take a look at the Center for Research and Occupational & Environmental Toxicology, who provides OSHA-based landscape safety guidelines and tips.
For Phoenix landscape services, contact Corona Landscape today. We provide landscape maintenance services in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Ocotillo.
Ahwatukee Landscaping: Basic Tips for Shrubs and Cacti (Part 2 of 2)
You’ve made a significant investment in your Ahwatukee landscaping and you want to make sure you enjoy your yard for years to come. The first step involves learning how to provide that care. Even if you hire a professional Ahwatukee landscaping company to provide regular maintenance, it’s important to know what type of care is required for shrubs and cacti.
Shrubs
With regards to watering, more care should be provided in the spring and summer months versus the fall and winter months. For new shrubs, the first six weeks will be most important in terms of proper care. More water is required during this time for plants established in spring or summer months.
In general, the soil of newly planted shrubs should be kept moist for the first two weeks, or until you see new growth. After that, you should water shrubs based on the guidelines for the particular species.
Regarding pruning, less is better when it comes to shrubs. You want to prune to maintain a natural shape and to allow sun to hit the lower branches of the shrub. And, pruning should be avoided during any periods frost may occur.
Cacti and Succulents
Symbolic of Arizona landscapes, cacti and succulents adapt well to harsh desert environments. They tolerate sun, heat and low water extremely well. Although they require less care than other Ahwatukee landscaping elements, they do require some attention.
A good rule of thumb would be to water your cacti and succulents once a month, depending on the amount of rain received during that period. Extra watering can promote more growth and flowering, but it can also cause some problems. If you over-water cacti and succulents, you increase the risk of pest attacks and the plant not surviving.
Hiring an Ahwatukee Landscaping Company
For all Ahwatukee landscaping, irrigations systems can help establish proper times and amounts of water. Each plant will require different irrigation levels. A qualified landscaper can install the right systems for all of your plants and simplify the overall process for you.
In addition, maintenance can be handled by a landscaping company to ensure the best care of your plants, especially if you’re pressed for time. Many homeowners find hiring an Ahwatukee landscaping company to be a smart decision to protect their investment. Contact Corona Landscaping today!
Ahwatukee Landscaping: Basic Tips for Sod Lawns and Trees (Part 1 of 2)
You’ve made a significant investment in your Ahwatukee landscaping and you want to make sure you enjoy your yard for years to come. Living plants need proper and regular care to flourish. The first step involves learning how to provide that care. Even if you hire a professional Ahwatukee landscaping company to provide regular maintenance, it’s important to know what type of care each of your plants requires.
Sod Lawns
A healthy lawn needs sunlight, water, fertilizer and mowing. If a sod lawn has just been installed, you’ll need to water more heavily for the first few weeks until the roots take hold. You may have to irrigate your new sod lawn up to four times a day for about five minutes each during the first couple of weeks.
Irrigation needs will taper off until the sod is rooted, which typically occurs after four weeks. Once rooted, you should water your lawn every three days.
When your lawn is established, you’ll need to develop a fertilization schedule. Typically, fertilization for lawns in Ahwatukee landscaping is done on a monthly basis. Professional landscapers recommend using a complete fertilizer with nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium in the proper ratios.
After two or three weeks, your new sod lawn will need to be mowed. Proper mowing cuts only the top one inch or so of your grass blades. If your mower blades are dull or you cut too far down, you risk turning your lawn brown.
Trees
When a tree is first planted, it will have to adjust and acclimate before it becomes established in its new location. Proper care during this period is crucial to a tree’s survival.
Watering depends on the species, location, time of year, soil and age. For the first couple of weeks, you’ll probably need to water every day or every other day. The best method is deep watering. In other words, you want the water to reach down far so the tree’s roots will grow deep into the ground.
After the first couple of weeks, you’ll have to customize your watering schedule and amount to each tree’s specific needs. By observing the water drainage and soil condition between watering, you can develop the proper method for effective irrigation.
Pruning is mainly done for aesthetics. However, the primary reason to prune a tree is stability and strength to withstand wind. One guideline is to not allow a tree’s canopy to become larger than its root base. In addition, only secondary branches should be pruned so the tree’s major branches can become stronger.
Need more information about your Ahwatukee landscaping? Contact Corona Landscaping today!
Tempe Landscaping Company, Corona Landscape, Recommends Homeowners Prepare Now to Plant Winter Lawns
Tempe landscaping company, Corona Landscape, recommends homeowners prepare now to winterize their lawns. With summer’s Bermuda grass soon to become dormant, homeowners who want green lawns in the winter need to plant Rye grass. Winter lawns should be seeded during October or when night temperatures consistently reach 60 degrees Fahrenheit.
“Visitors and newcomers to the Valley often find it unusual that we have different grasses for summer and winter months,” said Ed Bambauer, owner of Corona Landscape. “Bermuda grass tolerates the triple digit summer temperatures, but becomes dormant as temperatures fall.
“Seeding with a Rye grass provides a green lawn throughout the winter months,” continued Bambauer. “Then, around May as temperatures start to rise, the dormant Bermuda grass begins to grow again without having to be reseeded.”
To plant your winter lawn with Rye seed, Bambauer recommends scalping your summer Bermuda grass so that the Rye seeds will have contact with the soil. After scalping, the Rye seed is planted over the existing Bermuda grass. The process requires that the lawn sprinklers be turned off at least two weeks prior to scalping.
A winter lawn will start to die when temperatures reach 100 degrees Fahrenheit. No seeding is required for the summer Bermuda grass if it was previously planted. This planting cycle repeats each year with Rye seeding for winter lawns in October and Bermuda summer grass re-growing itself in May.
Corona Landscape is pleased to offer winter landscaping services to home in Mesa, Tempe, Chandler, Gilbert, Ahwatukee and Ocotillo. Please visit our website at http://www.coronalandscape.com/ or call (602) 373-9100 for a free quote.
Landscaping in Chandler: How to Get the Most from Your Landscaping Service (Part 2 of 2)
This blog post is the second of a 2-part series that will describe how to get the most from your landscaping service.
Turn to a Professional
Hiring a professional landscaping company makes sense for a variety of reasons. You gain from the landscaper’s education, expertise and experience with all kinds of landscaping issues. A well qualified landscape company will customize solutions to suit your property and budget.
For example, landscapers know best what will keep your plants alive. They have the right equipment and the know-how to transplant trees, shrubs and other plants for the best results.
They also can see what your visions will be when turned into reality. Planning ahead with your contractor will deliver the outcome you expect. Landscapers can help determine the perfect combination of hardscape, trees, shrubs, bushes, flowers and other plants to address your specific situation.
Many homeowners enjoy working in their yards. But, life becomes hectic and people may not be able to always spend the necessary time to maintain their landscaping in Chandler. Even if you do work in your yard, it’s a good idea to have a landscaper perform some of the maintenance tasks on a regular schedule.
You’ve made a significant investment in your landscaping. Hiring a professional landscaping company will ensure you get the best return on your landscaping dollars.
Landscaping in Chandler: How to Get the Most from Your Landscaping Service (Part 1 of 2)
This blog post is the first of a 2-part series that will how to get the most of your landscaping service.
When it comes to landscaping in Chandler, you want to get the best possible service for your money. Today’s landscaping options are diverse and widely available from a host of companies.
So how do you know what’s the right approach for you and your property? The tips below will help maximize your landscaping dollars.
Evaluate Your Current Landscaping
Before you contact a professional landscaping company, analyze your entire project in detail. Then, you can know where you’ll need help and what solutions would work for your situation. And, you’ll be better equipped to evaluate the suggestions, options and quotes provided by prospective landscapers.
For example, be careful to consider the following guidelines for your landscaping in Chandler:
- Make use of your existing landscaping as much as possible. Before you rip anything up, determine if you can take advantage of what you already have. Trees and other plants can remain beautiful elements of your landscaping. If need be, they can be relocated to other areas of your yard.
Trees, shrubs and other plants need to be planted in the most ideal location for them to thrive. Your landscaping company will help determine the most aesthetic location with the right conditions for each plant to do its best.
- Do you have issues you’d like to resolve, like noise or privacy? If your property borders a street, a school, a parking lot, or any other neighborhood drawback, you can use your landscaping in Chandler options to address these problems.
Fences are the first line of attack. They will establish a sound barrier and reduce line of sight into your yard. They will also frame your landscaping project and can add visual appeal.
You can consider thick shrubs to absorb noise and provide privacy. You can also replace the external noise with beautiful sounds of your own. A water feature or even outdoor speakers will help create the background noise you’ll enjoy hearing!
- If you’ve got a small front or back yard, which is quite common for landscaping in Chandler, you want to leverage your space effectively. Professional landscapers know the tricks of the trade to capitalize on your existing yard space.
You’ll be able to landscape your yard to function the way you’ll use it. Creating spaces for relaxing and entertaining will factor into your overall landscaping plan.
- Always consider the maintenance involved in any landscaping in Chandler project. You don’t want to have to replace a lot of dying plants. If you plan on maintaining a new landscape yourself, make sure your landscaper provides low maintenance plants. Or, contract with your landscaping company to perform the regular maintenance to keep your yard looking its best.
- Irrigation is a critical aspect of your landscaping project, even if you hire a professional to maintain your yard. Your landscaping in Chandler will work best when an irrigation system is programmed for its exact watering needs. You’ll also conserve water and save money with a properly installed irrigation system.
For more information about Chandler landscaping, continue to visit our blog or contact Corona Landscape.
Considerations for Hiring a Tempe Landscaper (Part 2 of 2)
This blog post is the second of a 2-part series that will describe the smartest way to hire a Tempe landscaper.
Select the Right Tempe Landscaper for You and Your Project
As with any home service, you’ve got a lot of options. So you’ll need to weed through them to find the best match for your project. You want to make sure your Tempe landscaper delivers as promised on time and at the price you expect. With everything subjective, you need to be very specific about what will be done and to what standard.
The following selection criteria should be considered:
- Licensed, Bonded and Insured
- Liability and Workmen’s Compensation Insurance
- Member of the Better Business Bureau
- Strong Referrals from Satisfied Clients
- A Diverse Portfolio of Landscaping Projects
- Specific Expertise in Your Project Area
- Industry Credentials and Certifications
- Organization Memberships
- Length of Time in Business
- Track Record of Good Job Site Performance
- Use of Subcontractors
- Manner of Billing and Payment Terms
- Work Schedules (accommodations for weather, seasonal requirements, soil damage, optimal planting times,
Probably one of the most important things to realize with landscaping is its ongoing nature. Living plants need to be maintained. And landscaping environments are in a constant state of change. For example, growing plants create shade and a whole new set of variables in your landscaping.
Long-term maintenance provides the best guarantee for long-term success for your home’s landscaping. A Tempe landscaper pays attention to water needs and adjusts irrigation accordingly. They monitor plants for disease and insects. And they prune to optimize plant growth. Regular attention to your landscaping helps guarantee your plants live the longest and serve their intended purpose.
For more information about Mesa landscape maintenance, continue to visit our blog or contact Corona Landscape.
Considerations for Hiring a Tempe Landscaper (Part 1 of 2)
This blog post is the first of a 2-part series that will describe the smartest way to hire a Tempe landscaper.
Hiring a Tempe landscaper is no different from hiring any other contractor. You ask friends, family and neighbors for referrals. You define your project in detail. And, you do your homework to select the landscaper with the best fit to your project requirements.
Any referral could provide valuable information and drastically cut your search time. It may also help to drive around and look at other’s landscaping. Note what you like and don’t like. Then ask who did the work.
Keep in mind, however, the limitations of input from neighbors, friends and family. You may have different tastes, personalities and expectations. A Tempe landscaper that’s well suited to one person and his or her project may not sync well with you.
It’s All in the Details
What are you looking to accomplish with your landscaping project? Do you need help with design? Do you want a company to install new landscaping? Are you looking for a complete overhaul? Do you want ongoing maintenance? Whatever you want should be detailed on paper. Documenting your desires and requirements helps cover all your bases with your Tempe landscaper.
The more you know about what you want, the better your chances of getting it. Plus, you can stretch your budget further by outlining exactly what you need. Some of the things to consider when defining your project include:
- Overall Design
- Grading Issues
- Drainage Issues
- Erosion Control
- Soil Condition
- Irrigation Needs
- Existing Trees and Shrubs
- New Trees and Shrubs
- Lawn Seeding and Fertilization
- Hardscape Features (granite, pavers, walks, walls, patios, decks)
- Seasonal Gardens
- Night Lighting
- Water Features
- Pest Control
- Maintenance and Lawn Care (mowing, trimming, edging, weeding, blowing, fertilizing)
- Community or HOA Restrictions and Requirements
For more information about Mesa landscape maintenance, continue to visit our blog or contact Corona Landscape.
Tempe Landscape Maintenance: Weed Control, Part 2
In part 1 of this blog post we discussed numerous methods of weed control and specifically focused on weed control in gravel areas. In this blog post we will provide Tempe landscape maintenance tips for weed control in lawn areas.
In lawn areas, the best way to prevent weeds is by maintaining a healthy Tempe landscape. A healthy lawn will out-compete most weeds and regular maintenance will remove the growing tips of most weeds. Chemical treatment should only be practiced on well-established lawns as newly seeded and installed lawns are commonly injured by chemical agents.
Pre-emergent herbicides are effective in preventing seeds from sprouting and are most effective in gravel areas. Homeowners should not use pre-emergent herbicides on their Tempe landscape if they plan to establish a hybrid Bermuda grass lawn. Pre-emergent herbicides can commonly be purchased from your local home improvement store or nursery. Pre-emergent herbicides should be applied to your Tempe landscape in April to control summer weeds an in September to control winter weeds.
Homeowners should avoid using total vegetation killers. These products will kill existing vegetation, continue to live in the soil for a number of years and can seep into surrounding areas of your Tempe landscape and affect or kill plants.
Also, be careful when using weed control products that contain 2-4-D. These products are designed for cooler temperatures and should not be used on your Tempe landscape. In warmer months, this product volatilizes and can cause extreme damage to your landscape as this gas drifts through the air.
Finally, remember to always follow the directions on the label of your weed control products and if you have any questions contact your local Tempe landscape maintenance architect for more information.
For more information about Tempe landscape maintenance, continue to visit our blog or contact Corona Landscape.
