2012 New Year Garden Resolutions

A new year brings the opportunity for improvement and while most resolutions may go by the wayside, we are pleased to present some that you may want to consider for your landscape.

·         I will recycle my yard waste by composting.

·         I will install a rain barrel...or two.

·         I will spend more time with my family and friends in the garden.

·         I will put out bird seed this winter.

·     I will stop and smell the roses...and the hydrangeas...and anything else blooming in my garden.

·         I will water in the morning to avoid fungal growth.

·         I will plant a vegetable garden so I can eat healthier.

·         I will install some plants that will give my gardens more interest for the winter.

·         I will enjoy my yard.

·         I will have a happy and healthy new year. 

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