Landscape Edging Blog - Page 7 of 14 - Tips, tricks, and information for aluminum landscape garden edging

May’s Chores and Tips

Posted on 6 May, 2016 in Gardening, Landscaping

Here are our May Chores and Tips suggestions! Did we miss any? Tell us in the comments below!

Watering your roses with soaker hoses or drip irrigation will reduce the spread of black spot disease.
Be sure to stay out of the garden when the vegetable plants leaves are wet. Walking through a wet garden spreads disease from one plant to another.
Grass clippings can be used as mulch in flowerbeds and vegetable gardens if allowed to dry well before use. Just be sure never use clippings from a lawn that has been treated with a herbicide.
Four or five layers of newspaper can serve as an effective mulch in your gardens. Just cover it with grass clippings or straw to prevent it from blowing away.
Be sure to plant your gladioli bulbs in late May.

Set out your marigold, petunia, ageratum and fibrous begonia transplants. All of these plants are good border plants.
To grow annuals in containers on the patio, use light weight soil mixture. Keep the plants well-watered, because the soil dries out fast. Apply a water soluble fertilizer according to the package direction every two weeks.
Mulch around newly planted trees and shrubs to reduce weeds, control soil temperature, and retain moisture. It also prevents damage from lawn mowers and looks attractive.
For maximum landscaping interest, try annual vines. They can disguise ugly walls and fences. When trellised, they can create shade and privacy while hiding undesirable views. Morning glory, nasturtium vine and scarlet runner bean are typically your best options.
Lawns maintained at the correct height are less likely to have disease and weed infestation. Kentucky bluegrass and tall fescue should be mowed at two or three inches in height. Mow frequently, removing no more than one third of the blade at each cutting.

It might sound obvious; put your tools away at the end of the day. Clean them and hang them up so they are ready to use and easy to find when you need them.
To better evaluate your gardening successes – keep weather records along with garden records. The most important items to report on are daily minimum and maximum temperatures, precipitation, cloud cover and frost occurrences.

47 Beautiful Plants that will Attract Bees, Butterflies and Hummingbirds.

Posted on 29 April, 2016 in Gardening, Landscaping

Ajuga

Allium

Alyssum

Aster

Basil

Bee Balm

Begonia

Blanket Flower

Bleeding Heart

Borage

Calendula

Cardinal Flower

Columbine

Coral bells (Heuchera)

Dahlia

Daylily

Delphinium

Dianthus

Foxglove

Fuchsia

Geranium

Gladiolus

Globe Thistle

Helianthus

Hollyhocks

Iris

Joe-Pye Weed

Lantana

Lavender

Lily

Marigold

Mullein

Musk Mallow

Petunia

Phlox

Poppy

Purple Coneflower

Queen Anne’s Lace

Salvia

Scabiosa

Stonecrop

Sunflower

Sweet William

Verbena

Yarrow

Zinnia

How To Make Everyday Earth Day!

Posted on 22 April, 2016 in Uncategorized

Every year on Earth Day, articles pop up about what you can do to take care of our planet. Although this is a great start, we all know that one day of thinking about the earth won’t make that large of an impact. That’s why we’re going to give you some ways to make every day Earth Day by only changing a few small habits!

There are four aspects we can focus on:

How do you use water?
How do you get from point A to point B?
How do you take part in the three R’s: Reduce, Reuse and Recycle?
How do you use energy?

Here’s some ways to make small chances that are better for Earth.

Water Use

Use reusable water bottles rather than the disposable plastic water bottles. Doing this eliminates waste.
Use less hot water when showering and doing laundry.
Take shorter showers instead of baths.
Do not leave the faucet running unnecessarily. Shut if off while you brush your teeth or shave.

Transportation

Drive less by working from home if possible or carpool!
Be gentle on your brakes while driving as it will be more gas efficient.
Drive slower – it saves gas!
Take public transportation when possible.
Ride your bike as much as possible (It’s great exercise too!)
Make sure your tires are inflated… Did you know it can increase mileage by more than 3 percent!
Make sure your car is running efficiently.

Reduce, Reuse, and Recycle

Compost – it makes great natural fertilizer. Did you know you can use your coffee grounds in your garden? http://www.yardproduct.com/blog/5-tips-for-winter-composting/
Recycle items instead of disposing in the trash – you’ll be amazed by how much can be recycled.
Be thrifty by shopping at thrift stores and donate your clothes so others can use them after you no longer need them.
Use reusable products instead of disposables.

Energy Use

Use LED light bulbs – they last 10 times longer and use two-thirds less energy.
Make sure your appliances are energy-efficient and up to date.
Get a programmable thermostat and reduce the thermostat setting when you go to bed. Sleeping in colder temperatures actually help people sleep and has many health benefits.
Make your home more energy-efficient. You can lose a lot of heat and air conditioning through your windows and improper use of your vents.

Have some other tips? Share them in the comments below!

10 Tips to Prepare Your Lawn For Spring

Posted on 15 April, 2016 in Edging, Gardening, Landscaping

It’s April and a lot of us just got another snow fall! Spring landscaping sets up your lawn for success in the summer and eventually once the snow melts, you can tackle your muddy yard yourself or with your local landscaping professional. Here’s 10 tips to ensure that the grass is NOT greener on the other side.

Spring Cleaning

Hopefully the leaves from the fall were raked last year. If not, grab the rake and get to work! A deep raking can also help remove any grass that may have died during the winter.

Inspect

Walk around your lawn and look for any bare spots or brown patches that might need your attention. Also, take time to inspect your landscaping equipment. Will your lawn mower start? Does the blade need sharpening? Is the sprinkler system working? Does your lawn have any winter salt damage from de-icers and salt?

Reseed

After winter, your lawn might have some bare spots. Grass and weeds compete for space, so it is important to fill the void with new grass to prevent the weeds from taking over during the summer.

Mow

Once the warm weather sets in and the average daily temperatures rise above degrees Fahrenheit, grass will start sprouting. The new growth will require mowing. Set your mower higher and make sure not to cut your lawn shorter than 2.5 inches or more than 1/3 of the length when you mow. Cutting it too low removes too much of the grass leaf. Longer grass blades have longer roots, adsorb more nutrients and prevent weeds from growing.

Edge

Edging your lawn adds a clean appearance that improves your curb appeal and the overall look of the lawn. Edging also prevents overgrowth onto sidewalks and flowerbeds as the lawn becomes more active in the late spring and early summer. For some great landscaping options, check out YardProduct.com.

Feed

Fertilizer is like giving your lawn and plants a multi-vitamin. It helps them grow greener and lush! Use a soil test to figure out the exact type of fertilizer to use.

Weed

Prevent the spreading of weeds by applying a pre-emergent herbicide, a preventative weed killer. If crabgrass is a problem in your area, consult your local landscaping professional on what can be done to prevent it.

Prune

Trim your shrubs and plants for optimal growth. Spring’s blooming shrubs need to be pruned after they bloom, not before!

Water

Watering scheduled vary by region and plant type, as well as Mother Nature and in some cases, local restrictions play a role in watering frequency. Regardless of all the factors, you never want to over water. Use a water gauge to be precise with your watering schedule.

Aerate

Consider aerating your lawn in the spring in cases of over compaction from traffic, thin turf from dying grass and excessive thatch from a poor watering/feeding schedule. Aerating relieves these issues and promotes healthy lawns.

Have any questions or things to add? Let us know in the comments below.

How to Create a Delightful Dog-Friendly Garden

Posted on 8 April, 2016 in Gardening

Dogs totally love spending time outside and of course, digging in the garden is one of their favorite outdoor activities. But just like kids, dogs can be a bit harmful to both your interiors and landscape if you do not distract them from the plenty of mischiefs they might get into. That is why you should be well acquainted with some techniques that will help you dog-proof your garden and make it a more convenient place for your beloved pet.

Give them a hint where to go

Dogs really like patrolling the yard. Your hairy friend will be much happier knowing that the perimeter is safe and free of uninvited cats, squirrels and birds. Guide your pet where to walk by laying a path close to your garden’s fence. This will protect your garden beds and allow the dog some space to have fun and run freely at the same time. Incorporating a fence in your garden landscape will also help you keep your playful friend safe by limiting their chance to go in the street without being supervised.

Think about the surface

In case the “path” idea pleases you, you should consider picking materials that will be as much comfortable as possible for your dog to run onto. Pea gravel is a good idea for pathways which do not get too hot in summer and have no sharp edges to injure your dog’s paws. However, your dog will sometimes avoid the paths and instead will go between the flowers, so when it comes to choosing mulch for your garden, we suggest buying something which is friendly to dog paw pads like mini chips, for example.

Provide amenities

The more your dog runs around, the more it will enjoy a chill and shady place to relax afterwards. Arrange a comfy spot under some tree or a shed where your pet will be able to lie down for a while to recover their strength after the long and exhausting ball game or bird chasing. Place a water bowl and make sure that there is always fresh, cool water in it. You can also design an area where to play fetch games with your dog without thinking about the plants you may harm. Just leave some space free of any flowers or herbs and plant only grass there to create a playground that will be easy to maintain.

Pay enough attention to your pet

Marking territory is a thing your dog will surely do, but if you often skip the walk, you can expect much more than this. Whenever you see the dog marking, water the areas promptly to avoid the negative consequences for your plants. Your garden will suffer every time you forget to take your pet out for their walk or if you do not spend enough time together. When dogs get bored, they start digging holes in the ground, picking flowers, etc. Engage your pet’s attention by making them a part of your gardening work. Let the dog sit near you and watch you planting or trimming. The more often you play and do things together, the less time and desire your dog will have to run on their own and thus damage the fragile plants you have taken much care of.

Pets are parts of our families so they surely deserve to feel comfortable and protected in home. Stick to those guidelines to make your garden a bit more dog-friendly and provide your loved pet with another reason to adore you.

April Chores and Tips

Posted on 1 April, 2016 in Gardening, Landscaping

Here are our April Chores and Tips suggestions! Did we miss any? Tell us in the comments below!

Do you have roses? Fertilize your established roses. Liquid fertilizers can be added at two week intervals but follow the instructions on the container.
Make a plot layout of your flower borders so you will know where to locate the spring flowering bulbs you plant next fall. It will always make spring and summer gardening easier. You will be able to identify the plants in your border and plan for continuous blooming by setting young annuals between bulbs and early flowering perennials after their blooms have faded.
April is a great time to clean up plants and flower beds; pick out dead leaves, twigs and prune dead limbs.

As the weather gets warmer and the days lengthen, adjust your irrigation timer to water more frequently. Be sure to run your system long enough to wet the top two feet of soil. A deep, infrequent water is much more beneficial than a daily sprinkle.
Allow your wildflowers to go to seed so they will produce a natural healthy feast for birds as well as reseeding themselves so they grow again next year.
Begin fertilizing Bermuda grass lawns during late April or early May. Follow the instructions on the container.
Control lawn weeds now through late May before they get too large.
To determine if soil is ready to work, squeeze a handful of soil into a tight ball and then break the ball apart with your fingers. If the ball of soil crumbles easily, the soil is ready to work. If the soil stays balled, it is too wet to work.
Once new growth begins on trees and shrubs, cut them back to where the green wood begins to remove any twigs that were affected by winter kill.

Your lawn mower blade should always be sharp so they do not tear the grass. If you sharpen the blade at home, make sure you balance it too. Place the center hole of the blade on a screwdriver handle held upright in the vise. If it doesn’t balance, sharpen the heavier side until the blade balances on the handle.
Invest in a hose-end shut-off valve this spring. These are available separately as part of a watering wand. This allows you to turn off the hose as you move around the yard and shut off the water immediately, rather than letting the hose run while you hurry to turn off the main spigot.

Designing Your Outdoor Landscape Lighting

Posted on 25 March, 2016 in Gardening, Landscaping

Outdoor lighting is about far more than just safety and security. There is no reason that your curb appeal should be limited to the daytime. In fact, landscape lighting is a part of a new trend for 2016. All the beautiful landscaping features that you have spent your time, energy and money on should be admired both day and night! Here’s a few things to consider:

Low Voltage Outdoor Lighting

The electricity that runs into your home holds potentially dangerous 120 volts. To create a lower voltage outdoor lighting, you will need to install one or more transformers. This will reduce the voltage of your outdoor landscape lighting to a tame 12 volts. This is very important because if you’re wiring gets exposed by the weather and the abuse of the elements, this voltage will not pose any danger to you, your family or your pets.

There is a downside to having a lower voltage… The further the light fixture is from the transformer, the dimmer the light becomes. If this becomes a problem, there are a number of easy solutions such as upgrading to a higher-rated transformer or a heavier-gauge cable. You can use multiple transformers or you can simply reduce the number or wattage of your light fixtures. Moving the transformer or rearranging the layout of the lighting system can reduce the cable length to each fixture might also fix the problem. If none of these things seem appealing, you could also consider using the dimming as an intentional effect. This is popular in path lighting, where each light fixture gets stronger as you move closer to your home.

Design and Installation

Deciding what you want your lighting to do is the first step when choosing and designing your lighting system. You will need to consider the convenience and safety of entering your home at night, adding night time curb appeal to your home and simply creating a romantic mood for your landscaping. There are three main categories to lighting, but many different lighting designs – some even use a combination of all three.

Path Lighting

This category focuses on using fixtures to light your paths and walkways. The primary goal is safety but this lighting is still aesthetically pleasing.

Accent Lighting

This category focuses on lighting a specific object or landscaping feature. It still allows for peripheral lighting and dim illumination of surrounding areas. This design allows for curb appeal but emphasizes individual areas like a tree or garden.

Spread Lighting

This category focuses on spreading light among your outdoor landscape and creates a more general mood. Certain areas will still be emphasized but generally it isn’t focused around a single feature like the first two lighting categories.

What type of lighting do you use in your landscaping?

How to Choose Landscape Edging

Posted on 18 March, 2016 in Edging

Lawn edging is a physical barrier between the lawn and another area such as flower bed, path or driveway. Lawn edging provides a neat lawn edge and prevents grass roots growing into flower beds or over pavers. It also keeps plants, soil and mulch in place. In addition, landscape edging helps define walkways so that people are discouraged from walking over flower beds.

In addition to providing a neat appearance, garden edging can be real time-saver. There is no need to manually cut the edge of the lawn with an ‘edger’ tool, a task that must to be repeated as the lawn grows throughout the season. Lawn edging reduces the need for weeding and stops soil and mulch washing out of the flower beds due to rain or snow.

There are many different styles of lawn edging so it’s easy to choose a style that suits your garden or yard.

Aluminum Lawn Edging

This edging is does not rot and is rust proof so it lasts a long time. Because it is flexible, it so can be used for curved or straight lines. Compared to wood or stone edging, aluminum edging is light weight. Stakes are built into the edging and are used to anchor the edging in the ground, so it is easier to place and maintain than other types of edging which require trenches to be dug during installation. The design of ‘Dreamscape Aluminum lawn edging’ is low-profile, simple and clean, so it suits mid century or modern style yards and gardens, but also blends in with traditional styles.

Stone Edging

Natural stone edging is expensive, heavy and time-consuming to install. A great alternative to natural stone is Dreamscape’s Decorative ‘Stone’ edging. It is made out of lightweight, durable vinyl that has the appearance of stone. It is a surface edging which means it sits on top of the soil, so there is no need to dig a trench. This edging comes in interlocking pieces which will fit any shape, curve or straight line. The edging can be used to anchor landscape fabric in place, for example in a kid’s playground where the landscape fabric will be covered in mulch. The natural appearance of stone edging makes it perfect for ‘natural’ landscapes and traditional styles.

Sta-Right Edging

This edging by Dreamscape is made from recycled plastic and is ‘L’ shaped, with a horizontal edge that is installed flat on the ground and a vertical edge that abuts the lawn. Because of this construction it is very versatile and can be used as lawn edging, edging for beds and as a paver restraint for walkways, patios and driveways, where it will keep pavers in place. The unobtrusive appearance of this edging blends enables it to fit in with any style of yard or garden.

With so many different landscape edging styles available, there are plenty of options to choose from. Things to consider are; ease of installation, durability, the appearance of your yard or garden, your budget and access to customer support/instructions. If the plastic edging is made from recycled plastic, that’s another plus. It’s well worth making the investment in lawn edging because it will increase your yards curb appeal and reduce the amount of time needed for garden maintenance.

What’s Trending in the Gardening Industry?

Posted on 11 March, 2016 in Gardening

Each year the Garden Media Group publishes a Garden Trends Report. This year they reported seven specific trends. Here they are:

Connected Greenery:

In this day and age, our phones are always with us… We eat, sleep, walk, and talk with our phones. With more and more people becoming plugged in outside, it is not a surprise that they are syncing their garden habits with their technology! People want to have beautiful outdoors without having to put in a lot of work. And this is why turning to technology to help grow plans both indoors and out is so common! There are now modern systems that allow you to remotely control what happens in your home and garden.

NaTECHure:

NaTECHure is a combination of two of the hottest trends in education: technology and nature. This concept combines virtual and augmented reality to engage kids with gardening, health and fitness in fun, new ways. It will get people off the couch and into the great outdoors, something that is vital to children – and their parents. Whether its playing tag, shoveling in a sandbox, swinging on swings or even geocaching, NaTECHure has the potential to mobilize new generation of nature lovers.

Welltality:

This concept tells us that Horticulture is inherently tied to health and wellness. People are putting their health first, which changes what we eat, what we use on our bodies and the environment. Welltality is a trend in the hospitality industry which allows hotels to become destination locations by having living walls, indoor forests and serving locally grown food. Greenery is incorporated throughout the guest experience to help people heal quicker, concentrate easier and even increase mental health!

The Makers Lifestyle:

This trend shifts people from the doing in the DIY movement to the making. People want to experience the outdoors in a way that makes them feel at home, but is personalized to their tastes. The concept behind this is that people aren’t just making things… they are making experiences. Many people attempt to capture their childhood in their outdoor set ups… Adapting their landscaping to include porch swings like the one you sat on with your grandmother or with a fire pit that captures your summers at summer camp.

Backyard Boldness:

This trend is one we cannot help but adore! This approach has people turning to “new customizations, lighting and movement to add a sense of whimsicality to their backyards.” Homeowners are moving away from subtle and minimalistic to things much bolder that increase sensory appeal. Nightscaping is a big part of this and is “drawing record breaking crowds to the gardens [of the Longwood Gardens’ Nightscape exhibit] after dark. Your outdoor spaces are becoming a destination – a place where you want to go and spend time in, rather than a place where you have to do chores or work.

Layered Landscapes:

Layered Landscapes is exactly what it sounds like! It starts with trees and is layered underneath with shrubs and flowers. The thought behind this is that it will bring your yard back to its natural habitat, allowing for more natural ecosystems, pollination systems and other wildlife. People are looking less for long fields of perennials and more for a combination of trees, conifers, shrubs and perennials. People are making more educated decisions when purchasing plants by focusing on their function as well as their beauty. These landscapes will last much longer than just the year, in fact most will be around for years to come.

Dogscaping:

Do you have pets at home? Then this trend is for you. The mindset behind this is that pets play outdoors in the lawn, rolling, digging and possibly even eating it, so it makes perfect sense to make sure your outdoor experiences are pet friendly and free from poisonous plants and harmful chemicals. This trend also focusses on the importance of protecting your precious plants from your pets!

Which one of these trends are you going to partake in? Which one is your favorite? Tell us in the comments below!

March Chores and To-Dos!

Posted on 4 March, 2016 in Gardening, Landscaping

We cannot believe it is already March! Time just flies by! Here’s some chores and things that you’ll want to make sure happen during the month.

If you’re still receiving snow, be sure to shovel and brush off the snow from any raised bed covers.
Onto warmer thoughts… Prep any new garden beds as the weather permits.
If the soil is workable, add compost and any other soil amendments as needed.
Make sure to fertilize plants that are starting to grow actively.
Be sure not to plow your garden while the soil is wet, as it will form clumps that are difficult to break up. This will interfere with the cultivation during the summer months.
If there are weeds in your bulb beds, be sure remove them by hand so the bulbs and roots will not be disturbed.
Spring is a great time to renew and add more variety to your landscape… Buy some new perennials for your flower border.

When buying bare-root trees, look for the ones with the largest root system in relation to top growth. It is not necessary to purchase a larger tree to get a quality plant.
Dig, divide and replant crowded summer and fall flowering perennials.
Plant your spring flowering annuals.
Prune your shrubs and ornamental trees before the growing starts (except for the spring flowering shrubs – prune those as soon as they finish flowering.
Early spring is the perfect time for these turf treatments – if needed. Special equipment is available for each operation… Consult a lawn-care specialist or rent the equipment and do it yourself!
- Vertical cutting or thinning to remove thatch and aerification
- Or coring to reduce soil compaction.
As the nice spring weather approaches, it is a perfect time for repositioning stepping stones that have heaved or snuck below grass level. Do this by lifting them, spreading sand in the low areas and replacing the rocks. A bed of sand under the stones will allow for better drainage and decrease the sinking for next year.
If you built and birdhouse in the winter, now is the time to put them out. The birds will begin looking for nesting sites very soon.

Start more seeds growing inside.
Keep an eye on your indoor transplants and make sure they’re happy and healthy!
Repot any houseplants that have grown too large for their containers. Cut back leggy plants to encourage compact growth. To increase your supply of plants, root the cuttings in moist soil.
Protect yourself and the blade of your pruning saw during storage by making a cover using a piece of old garden hose the same length of the blade. Cut the hose lengthwise on one side and place over the saw blade.
If you haven’t already, check your stored tools and outdoor furniture for signs of rust. Remove any surface rust with steel wool and pain with rust inhibitive paint.