Jack-O-Lantern Photo Contest!!

Win $250 in Allentuck Landscaping Bucks for you and for the school of your choice. Here's How It Works (so easy):  Get a pumpkin (preferably not from your neighbor's porch). Carve or paint your pumpkin. Take a picture of your Jack-O-Lantern. Click the "Submit" button below and attach the picture of your Jack-O-Lantern. Tell us your name and school. Go to our Facebook page between October 20th to October 30th and "Like" your picture (we'd sure appreciate it if you would "Like" our page too while you are there). Tell all your friends to go to our Facebook page and "Like" your picture too. Winner and school will be announced on October 31st on our Facebook page and by email. Why are you still reading this? Go get a pumpkin!

A few rules (sorry, have to have a few): Entrants must be from the Allentuck Landscaping Co. service area. You do not need to be a current ALC customer to enter or vote (although we would like you to become a customer of course). ALC reserves the right to reject any photo it deems inappropriate.

Fall Is Great For...

Fall Is Great For ...

 

Fall is like a breath of fresh air, literally. The heat and humidity have faded, the kids are back in school and football is back on television. It is a fresh start for us, and for our gardens. There is plenty to do.

Revive the lawn - Even in mild summers, turf grass takes a beating in our region. Fall is the perfect time to core aerate, apply lime to adjust the pH, install new grass seed and fertilize. Your efforts will be rewarded in the spring with a thick lush lawn.

Refresh the garden - Falls is a great time to add shrubs, trees and perennials to your gardens. Fill in those empty areas, add some new interest or overhaul tired areas. By planting now, the roots will be better established and the plants will take-off in the spring.

 

Energize the garden - Add a splash of color. Pansies, Chrysanthemums, Cabbage and Kale can all be planted now to add super splashes of color to your gardens. It is also time to plant spring bulbs such as Tulips, Daffodils and Hyacinths for spring beauty.

Maintain the garden - Add a layer of mulch to give your gardens a fresh look and protect your plants for the winter. It is also time for that last shrub and tree pruning of the year.

Plan the garden - Fall is an exceptional time to meet with our Landscape Designers and start planning new gardens, patios, walkways and other projects. Give us a call today to get started.

Make Your Patio Awesome

Make Your Patio Awesome

A patio is a patio right? Not exactly. We view patios as an extension of your home, your outdoor family room, so to speak. A family room is not a family room right? It is your family room and you have probably gone to great lengths to make it special. Why not do the same with your patio?

Here are a few ways to make your patio awesome:

Add a seat wall - This sounds simple enough, and it is. A seat wall around part of your patio not only provides extra seating capacity, but also creates a boundary to your patio, making it feel cozier and more private. Another benefit to a seat wall is that when other families come over, the children naturally migrate to sit on the seat wall leaving the parents to enjoy the meal even more.   

Light it up - Lighting can greatly enhance any patio room and extend its usefulness into the night. With today's technology, LED lights can also save energy and reduce the need to change light bulbs. An automatic timer makes the whole system care free.

Let there be fire! - What is better than sitting around a campfire in the comfort of your backyard. A fire pit can really make a good evening a great evening. Choose from wood burning or gas, just save us a s'more.

There is no reason in the world to settle for boring. With these options, your patio can be awesome! 

See more of our patios at Our Portfolio.

Two good garden related articles in the Washington Post this morning.  

The first one discusses the qualities of Helleborus (Lenten Rose), a wonderful early season bloomer. Read more here: 


http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home/rediscovering-the-lenten-rose/2012/03/23/gIQArHQogS_story.html


The second article talks about the benefits of using fireplace ash in the garden:


http://www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/home-garden/the-benefits-of-wood-ash-in-the-garden/2012/03/18/gIQAVBSEgS_story.html

Warning: Cold Weather Tonight

It looks like Mother Nature isn't quite ready to is not quite ready to give up on cold weather. Tonight's forecast is for temperatures in the high 20's to low 30's. This means that some tender plants could be affected.  

Here are some things to consider:

Cover the most tender plants like roses, peonies and xxx with a sheet or newspaper.If you have already planted spring annuals (petunias, begonias etc) or vegetable plants, cover them as well.    

Cover the plants around dinner time tonight and uncover them around 9am tomorrow morning.  

Most plants will come through the cold temperatures just fine. Some of the more tender growth may get burned but will most likely be re-generated.

As a rule, the last frost date in this area is usually around May 10th. This is the date that it is safe to plant summer annuals and vegetables. 

Be A Suburban Farmer

Nothing tastes better, or is better for you, than fresh grown vegetables. It is even more rewarding when you grow them yourselves. Unfortunately, it takes a lot of work to get a garden started. Removing turf, tilling in organic matter and fertilizer...who has the time? And then there is the bending over to pull weeds.

Want the "fruits of your labor" without the toil? We have the answer.

Allentuck Landscaping Co. has created "Garden In A Box"! These vegetable/herb gardens are 4' wide, 8' long, and stand 1' tall to minimize the bending over. Each garden is constructed using sturdy recycled composite lumber that will not rot or warp and is filled with a rich mixture of topsoil, leafmold and manure. We even give you a bag of fertilizer so you can continue to nourish your garden plot.

Each Garden In A Box can be installed for $550.00 (slightly more on sloped ground) or two for $1,045.00. Deer Protection can be added for $140.00.

Get started today to have veggies on your table this summer.

To find out more how Allentuck Landscaping Co. can make your landscape dreams a reality, please call Eric Shostal at 301-515-1900 or email at eric@allentucklandscaping.com, or simply click the link below:

                                                  

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.      

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: