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