A Flagstone Walkway in Potomac, Maryland

Here is a video of a walkway we built this fall (2011) for a client in Potomac, Maryland. We used irregular Pennsylvania flagstone set on a CR6/stonedust base. The walkway ends at small patio which has a fire pit built into it. What a nice spot to spend a summer evening!


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=pFLnFOt2v_I

Ugly, Ugly, Ugly           

Where did that ugly utility box come from? It wasn't there last month. It's soooooo ugly!

Actually, it was there last month. As was the electric meter, irrigation controller, and your, um, neighbor. Unfortunately, as leaves drop all that is left  is the bone structure of deciduous plants and some eyesores we may not have noticed in the warmer months.

Fear not, here are some excellent solutions to consider:

Evergreens - Plants such as Skip Laurels, Hollies and Arborvitaes offer year round beauty, seasonal interest and potential backdrops to shrubs and perennials. There are a lot of variety of plants to choose from.

Trellises - Adding an element such as a trellis can not only hide something you don't want to see, but can also become a point of interest in your garden. Always try to match the architectural style of your home.

  

Fences - Fences make good neighbors. Not only do they hide things you may not want to look at, they hide things your neighbors may not want to look at too! They also provide security and keep our pets safe. With so many styles available, there is a fence for hiding just about everything.

 With a little imagination, screening can be both functional and attractive.

Winter Is On Its Way

A nip in the air, longer nights, shorter days. We still have a lot of fall to go through but... winter is on it's way. Here is a checklist of tasks to get your home and landscape ready.

·         Pick up a bag of ice melt product to have on hand.

·          Shut off outdoor water spigots. Leave the faucet slightly open to drain out any remaining water.

·          Drain and store all garden hoses.

·          Have mower blades and pruners sharpened.

·          Add a little extra mulch around tender plants.

·          Move outdoor furniture indoors or cover with plastic.

·          Drain and cover fountains.

·          Replace furnace filters.

·          Replace batteries in smoke detectors.      

The Race Is On!

A nip in the air, longer nights, cooler days....it all means one thing - leaf removal time.

At Allentuck Landscaping Co. the race is on to get our maintenance client's leaves cleared for the upcoming holidays. We have tuned up our blowers and vacuums and double checked our rakes.

To maximize efficiency, our crews collect the leaves into large piles and then move them to our tow behind vacuums where they are sucked up and into the waiting trucks. But our efficiency does not stop there.

Once the leaves arrive back at our office, they are stockpiled until later in the winter and then ground up into organic leafmold. We use the leafmold throughout the year to mix into garden beds thus creating healthy landscapes. Nothing goes to waste.

In a typical year we grind up 5,400 cubic yards of organic waste, enough to cover an entire football field three feet deep!

Allentuck Landscaping Co. only offers leaf removal as part of our TotalScape and BedScape maintenance programs. If you would like a free quote, please call Eric Shostal at 301-515-1900 or email him at eric@allentucklandscaping.com.

A great Night for Allentuck Landscaping Co.

A Great Night For

Allentuck Landscaping Company

In one fantastic night, members of our staff attended two award ceremonies and walked away with a total of three awards!

At the Gazette of Politics and Business, Allentuck Landscaping Co. was recognized as one of the 53 Exceptional Companies in Maryland. This is the second time that we have made the list. Companies are judge on business performance, company culture and employee welfare. We felt grateful to be among outstanding fellow awardees such as John Hopkins Medicine, Mid Atlantic Federal Credit Union and Darcars Automotive Group.

Across town, Allentuck Landscaping Co. received two Montgomery County Beautification Awards. These awards recognize outstanding landscape installations and maintenance at commercial buildings and public spaces. Allentuck Landscaping Co. was recognized for our work at the Willco Building (7811 Montrose Road in Rockville) and Fallsgate Community in Potomac. Thank you to our clients for allowing us to do great work and to our staff for being amazing.

Why Can't We All Just Get Along?

We often hear, "Nothing will grow under my trees".

To be perfectly honest, our first response to this statement is usually not what our customers want to hear: "Duh". Mature trees have large canopies that block out the sun and massive root systems that will out-compete smaller plants for water every day. So the area under the trees becomes brown and dead looking. We can't blame anyone for wanting to beautify and area like this.

So what should we do?

Consider The Tree First - Mature trees are a valuable asset to any landscape. Many species need air and water available to the roots to survive. Others cannot tolerate pH change or disturbance to the root system. Understanding and being sensitive to the tree specie's needs is the first step.

Create an Environment for Success - Simply piling dirt over the root system is not the answer - it will suffocate the tree's roots. A mixture of screened topsoil and organic matter (leafmold) is better, but only to a depth of 2". Selecting smaller plants will reduce the need to dig deep and tear out roots. Apply a 2"-3" layer of mulch will add nutrients and insulate both the new plants and tree roots.

Help Your New Plants - The new plants will require more water than new plants not planted under large trees. Remember, the tree already has a root system in place to take up the water. Water the new plants every other day for at least six weeks. Monitor them during the dry summer for additional water needs.

Some Plants to Consider -

Pachysandra Japanese Painted Fern Foamflower

Japanese Forest Grass Lungworts Periwinkle

Flower Pots That Pop

Fall Flower Pots That Pop

Last week's email was about fall flowers that will add some sizzle to your garden.

This week, we are presenting some flower combinations that will make the pots on your front stoop and patio pop with excitement.

The two most important things to remember for successful flower pot displays are:

Use Good Potting Soil - the soil is the source of nutrition for the plants. Over time, the nutrients are depleted. Remember to change it out once a year.

Don't Forget To Water - This may sound like a no brainer but flower pots dry out faster than gardens. The plants need to be watered daily to thrive.

Now that the basics are covered, here are some fantastic combinations for you to consider:

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fall-Flower-Pots-That-Pop.html?soid=1102024432606&aid=LbW9lRMh1Dg

http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Fall-Flower-Pots-That-Pop.html?soid=1102024432606&aid=LbW9lRMh1Dg

Hurricane Damage: In Case You Need Us

Hurricane Damage:

In Case You Need Us

We hope you will not need us after Hurricane Irene passes, but we are here to help if you do.

· Storm Clean Up

· Drainage Solutions

· Erosion repair

Contact us by:

Phone: 301-515-1900 (messages will be checked)

Emai: info@allentucklandscaping.com

These Plants Are Hot

Summertime and the liv'in is easy. To make life even sweeter, how about adding some splashes of color to your garden. There are a lot of great plants to choose from this time of year. Here are the plants that made our HOT list for summer.

Tardiva Hydrangea - This large shrub has beautiful white blooms that last a long time. Even after they have faded, they look like "moths dancing around the tree".

Crape Myrtle - No plant says summer like the Crape Myrtle. With colors like pink, red, purple and white, and sizes ranging from small shrub to medium size tree, this versatile plant deserves a spot in your garden.

Caryopteris (Blue Mist Plant) - The low mounding habit of Caryopteris makes it perfect as a low border plant for massing purposes and works wonders in dry, sunny spots. Hundreds of blue foot long flower spikes cover this plant in late summer.

Sedum - So many to choose from. This family of plants have varieties that bloom in pink, yellow or red and grow as a clumping or spreading perennial. Sedums take bright sun and can tolerate low water. A perfect plant for our summers.

Echinacea (Cone Flower) - Cone Flowers have come a long way in recent years with interesting varieties such as Kim's Knee High and Magnus, this plant is sure to add some zip to any landscape. Not only is it attractive to us two legged animals, butterflies love it too.

BONUS PLANT: Rudbeckia (Black Eyed Susan) - We can't leave Maryland's state flower off of this list. Its vibrant colors are sure to add energy to even the most dog day of August.

Hot Enough To Fry Your Garden

Our recent heat wave and lack of rain has left many gardens and lawns in our area stressed out. The excessive heat expected over the next couple of days will only add to the misery. Here are some tips to help you help your landscape survive.

Trees and Shrubs - Newly planted trees and shrubs are the most sensitive to heat and drought damage. Special care should be taken to establish good root systems on plants one or two years old. Deep watering is best. Leave the hose running at a trickle for 5-10 minutes at the base of the plants to let it soak well into the soil. Avoid spraying the foliage with water on hot afternoons as this will lead to leaf scorch. A good mulch base helps insulate the roots but too little (less than an inch) does not help much and too much (over three inches) keeps water from soaking in.

Lawns - Lawns require 1-2 inches of water per week. It is best to water in the early morning so that the leaves can thoroughly dry and reduce the chance of foliar diseases. We typically have cool season grasses (fescue, ryegrass and bluegrass) in our area. These grasses naturally go dormant (turn brown) during periods of high temperatures. This keeps the grasses from extreme desiccation. They will naturally green up when cooler temperatures and moisture returns.

Vegetables - Vegetable plants require adequate water at all stages of development. Without it, blossoms will drop and yields will decline. These plants generally require 1-2 inches of water per week. Like other plants, avoid getting water on the foliage, target the root zone. A good compost base at planting will also help conserve moisture.

Thirty Years in the Making

No, it did not take us thirty years to create this new landscape. Nor did it take thirty years for our client to get around to changing their landscape. The catalyst for this landscape conversion was to celebrate our client's thirty year wedding anniversary, and Allentuck Landscaping Co. was very honored to play a part in the celebration.

Our client wanted to create a more contemporary look to their home including more attractive curb appeal, a safer and more accessible front entrance, a terrace to enjoy with family and friends, and a garden path to connect the front and rear of the property.

To accomplish this, a cedar wood deck landing was added to the front entry area and the existing flagstone walkway was re-set properly. The plantings in the front yard, a combination of Deutzia, Japanese Forest Grass and Sarcococca, added to making the front of the home a welcome site after a long day at work.

A large flagstone terrace was added to the rear of the house with areas set aside for enjoying a fire pit, sitting in lounge chairs, and enjoying a cozy dinner. Pressure treated timbers were used to retain the slope and flat stone boulder steps were installed linking the front gardens to the rear gardens. To compliment this great new area, a stunning Natchez Crape Myrtle was installed along with Japanese Plum Yews, Camellias and Sargent Junipers.

The best part? Allentuck Landscaping Co. completed the project by the deadline, a week before the client's anniversary party! And the client's reaction: "We love it!"

Gardens Are For Enjoying!

Allentuck Landscape Co.'s Top Ten Ways to Enjoy Your Garden

• Holding a barbeque with friends and family
• Sitting on the patio with a cup of tea in the evening
• Playing catch with the kids
• Relaxing in a hammock with a chilled beverage
• Planting flowers and watching them bloom
• Growing a garden and enjoying its fresh vegetables
• Building a snowman after the first snowfall
• Helping the kids build a fort
• Roasting marshmallows and s'mores over your fire pit
• Sitting on the deck and enjoying the view!