Edging
Cut lawn edges to demarcate planting beds and lawn areas and keep the lawn from spreading into empty spaces. In some cases, perennials and ground covers want to return the favor and spread into lawn spaces. The goal is a healthy cohabitation without invasion so that there is a neat edge with a well-shaped flow that draws your eye through the landscape in a gentle and pleasing way.
Pruning woody ornamental plants
Trees and shrubs should be pruned at the appropriate time in their growth cycles. Not all plants can or should be pruned at the same time, so be aware that spring, summer, and fall pruning needs are different. There are times when we will suggest that plants be pruned in the wintertime as well. Additionally, all plant types are not pruned in the same way. Understanding horticultural differences is critical in getting this job done right. At Holtscapes we offer pruning that can fit into a weekly schedule with other maintenance items or as a larger project for those trees or shrubs that have been left alone for awhile. It is critical to identify the plant and type because each one will have different requirements and seasons to prune. Some are pruned after flowering, others before the buds come. It is important to consider all factors to give your plants the best shot at having success.
Deadheading/Dividing/Transplanting/Removal
Gardens mature and age over time at different paces, which means that plants may need varying attention over the seasons as they mature and respond to seasonal fluctuations. Light trimming and deadheading of herbaceous plants (like perennials) is necessary as these plants move through their normal flowering cycle. Older, more mature plants may be in need of heavier-handed attention if they become too big or are no longer performing well in a location. Dividing and transplanting perennials that have outgrown their current space can make more room in the old location and provide an additional plant to utilize in other, open areas. Moving out shrubs to make more room and fill new spaces can be extremely effective in getting more performance out of an area and the plants in that garden. Most often this kind of work is done in the spring and fall.
General Weed & Bed Management
Weeding is a necessary “evil” that should not be avoided. Good bed management also means managing moss and overly aggressive perennials and woody plants that are seeding themselves in the landscape. The goal is to keep the garden managed so that undesirable plants never get a foothold in the soil or, worse, entangled in the root systems of the desirable plants. If you skip weeding, you ensure that the problem will increase. This is because weeds also have a flowering and seed setting cycle (just like the desirable plants). When they are left unchecked, those weeds repopulate the soil with more seeds to germinate in the next season and many seasons thereafter. It takes only one seeding to create weeds for several years to come.
Soil Health & Remediation
Soils deficient in organic matter, minerals, and/or nutrients should be treated to improve conditions for plants. Fall applications of lime may be needed to improve vitality and performance of ornamental garden areas. Soil testing is highly recommended to understand the soil chemistry more fully and to determine appropriate fertilization programs as well as more steps for soil remediation. Simply adding fertilizer on a yearly basis is not only ineffective, it can be costly. Organic compost is suggested for use with all plantings and transplants. Organic mulches – simple undyed bark and/or leaf mold -- is recommended as a follow-up to all of the above work. Balanced soils help reduce or eliminate moss, yellowed leaves, insect predation, and at times even helps reduce weeds. Most important, healthy soils have a better chance of supporting plants through times of drought.
Watering Strategies
Proper hydration is one of the key ingredients for a healthy landscape. Proper hydration promotes healthy soil, supports the right plants in the right places, and helps provide adequate acclimation time for new plants. Plants should only be moved if the homeowner is able to reliably monitor and water them. It should be noted that irrigation systems are not adequate for watering transplants. They also should not be set and left unchecked -- this is a root cause of much of our seasonal water shortages. It’s important to be aware of factors that may impede proper hydration, such as competition from trees, overcrowded plantings, and areas over-exposed to the elements, to name a few. If this is the case, a change in plant care strategy may be necessary. Weather based sprinkler clocks have come a long way since being introduced and may be a good option for your landscape.
