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.

We Give, Because They Gave

We Give, Because They Gave

Abraham Lincoln called it "the last full measure of devotion". He said this in the Gettysburg Address and was referring to a soldier giving his life for his country. It was in respect of his words that Allentuck Landscaping Co. took part in Renewal and Remembrance at Arlington National Cemetery (ANC) this week, an annual event sponsored by The Professional Landcare Network (PLANET) in which 450 landscape contractors from all across the country come to Washington, at their own expense, to spend a day of service caring for America's most hallowed piece of ground.

I had a unique perspective on the day as I have the honor of being the event's chairman. This was Allentuck Landscaping Co.'s seventh year volunteering, and this year we were represented well by eleven members of our staff and families. It was a typical hot and humid Washington day, but that did not deter anyone on our eager team.

The day started with an opening ceremony complete with full color guard. I had the privilege of welcoming everyone to our town. ANC Executive Director Hallinan spoke of the meaning of Arlington and what our work meant to the cemetery and the families that visit there. Finally, we heard from Bob Brophy, owner of one of our equipment vendor companies and a Vietnam Veteran. He spoke of his time in service, the friends that he lost, and a deeper meaning of the day ahead of us. It was an inspiring start.

In all, our volunteers limed and aerated massive acreage of turf, installed lightning protect and support cables in trees, upgraded irrigation systems, and planted two gardens to protect drainage swales. Suppliers donated three tractor trailers of lime and dozens of pieces of equipment. While we worked, young children of our volunteers enjoyed tours of the facility, a wreath laying at the Tomb of the Unkowns, and got to plant tree saplings and ornamental grasses. We completed close to $250,000 worth of work in one morning! To say I am proud of my staff, our peers and our industry would be an understatement.

It only seems appropriate to say thank you to you, our customers, for allowing us to be a successful business and to have the opportunity to take part in meaningful service such as this. Thank you.

Very Best, 

Bruce Allentuck

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.

Hug The Earth

Hug The Earth

We all need a hug every now and then. What better time is there to show the earth a little love than today, Earth Day. Here are ten ways you can show our rock how much you care:

·         Feed wildlife - Many plants have berries and nuts that provide food for our furry and feathered friends.

·         Install a rain barrel - Collect and use water off of your roof to water your plants. It is free!

·         Maintain a health lawn - Turf grass not only looks nice, it puts out a lot of oxygen and filters pollutants before they get to the water table.

·         Create a home for wildlife - Many plants also provide shelter for animals.

·         Use native plants - Plants that grow naturally in our climate are more resistant to harmful insects and diseases so less pesticides will be used to care for them.

·         Plant a vegetable garden - Not only will you get fresh vegetables for your family (and a big feeling of satisfaction), no fuel will be used to truck your vegetables to the store.

·         Keep cool - A shade tree put in the correct place in your yard can shade your home in the summer and let sun in to warm it in the winter.

·         Recycle yard waste - Don't pick up your grass clippings, it is free fertilizer for your lawn. Leaves, when composted, turn into wonderful leafmold for next year's garden.

·         Clean water - A rain garden helps clean the water coming out of your gutters before it goes into the ground.

·         Get outside - Nothing says you care like spending time with a loved one. Go for a hike or a picnic. Enjoy, and hug, our earth. It is the only one we have.   

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.

25 Years And Counting

25 Years And Counting

Wow. Who'd a thunk it? Twenty-five years have flown by in a whisper. In twenty-five years we have had the pleasure of working with so many wonderful people and had the opportunity to create and care for so many beautiful gardens.

Yesterday we celebrated by donating and dedicating a new Children's Garden at the Hospice Caring Cottage in Gaithersburg, Maryland. Hospice Caring has been helping terminally ill adults, children and their families by providing practical and emotional support when they need it the most. It has been an honor to partner with Hospice Caring for many, many years and to be able to create this garden for them.

The garden has a stone labyrinth, shrubs that will bloom throughout the year, and evergreens to create a sense of privacy. A butterfly house, bird house, moon gate and statue of a turtle will be added later. The garden was dedicated to the memory of David and Helen Allentuck, Bruce Allentuck's grandparents.

Montgomery County Executive Ike Legget and City of Gaithersburg Mayor Sidney Katz presented the company with a proclamation honoring the company's twenty-five years and dedication of the garden. Lastly, our team gathered for very proud company photographs.

A company does not make it twenty-five years without a ton of support from a lot of people. Thank you to our fabulous customers, staff and partners for helping us get to this milestone.

Winter Gets One Last Laugh

Winter Gets One Last Laugh

Surprise! A last minute snow storm is bearing down on our area just when we were getting ready for spring. We have been fielding a lot of calls in the last few days, all wanting to know; "Will the late snow harm my plants?"

The answer, probably not. This may not be the definitive answer you were hoping for so let's dig a little deeper (pun intended).

The temperatures are still fairly mild so we should not expect any cold damage to the plants. In fact, the snow may actually help insulate tender flower buds and shallow root systems.

The snow will actually bring a benefit to our gardens...water. Although we are not in a drought situation this year, the added precipitation will end up being mostly a good thing.

The one thing we do need to be concerned with is the weight the snow may put on shrubs and trees. This weight could break limbs. If it is a heavy snow and you are concerned, simply take a broom and gently brush the snow off of the plants periodically.

Do not forget about our furry and feathered friends. A blanket of snow can prevent them from getting to their food. Be kind and put out some seeds for them.

Enjoy this, hopefully, last taste of winter. Spring is coming...we promise.