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.

Experience Our Patios

Experience Our...Patios!

Patios bring friends and family together. Watch this video for ideas and then give us a call to get started on yours!

More Harbingers Of Spring

More Harbingers of Spring We know spring is just around the corner when we spot these two plants, both of which were spotted by our staff this week!    Witch Hazel - This beautiful shrub blooms yellow to red before leaves appear. A versatile plant that thrives in full sun to partial shade.       Crocus - This small bulb sure can add a splash of color to any garden. Yellows, purples and whites will bring a cheerfulness to your day!

Here Comes Spring!

Here Comes Spring!

Over the next few weeks you will see landscape truck after landscape truck carrying mulch, including of course, Allentuck Landscaping Co. trucks. Besides that fact that mulch makes our gardens look nice and is sort of a harbinger of spring, did you ever wonder why we put mulch down? What are the benefits? We have the answers:

·         Reduce surface evaporation from the soil

·         Improve water penetration and air movement

·         Moderate soil temperature fluctuations

·         Protect shallow-root plants from freeze damage and frost-heave

·         Discourage weed growth

·         Improve soil structure and nutrient availability as they decompose

The next question that you probably have on your mind is; "Must mulch be put down in the spring?" Great question. I am glad you asked. The truth is, mulch can be put down any time of the year. The fact that most mulch is installed in the spring has more to do with aesthetics than horticultural benefits. Of course, just making our gardens look great is good reason enough.

What A Team!

What A Team! 

Two of the best. Samuel and Jose have been with ALC for 19 and 16 years respectfully.

I was recently compiling some employee data and decided to run a query on the gang here at Allentuck Landscaping Co. I used hire dates to look closer at the average tenure of our staff. Landscaping is typically a high turnover industry, but amazingly the average tenure of our Crew Leader Corp and Management Team is 13 years! That average includes a number of folks who were hired within the last year or two! Now that tells us a few things; 1.) We have an extremely dedicated and loyal staff. 2.) There is a real atmosphere of family that pervades our culture and 3.) We have a lot of talented and experienced industry seasoned folks on board! It says a lot about our belief in our company values, as well as the current leadership team that has carried these values forward for so many years.

It is great to do what you love, to have passion, to get excited about your work, even in an extremely challenging economic environment. But for many of us here at Allentuck Landscaping Co., this is not the first time we have been challenged. We learn from our experiences on and off the job site. We bring that passion and skill set into all that we do. We treat every project as if it were our own and we never cut any corners in our workmanship nor the outcomes.

Now, I am not saying that every day is a walk through the park. We have the normal frustrations and hiccups that everyone has in their daily work life. But, we have a passion for landscaping and we love to share it with our clients, we like to call it the Allentuck Difference. That can only occur with a group of longstanding dedicated employees.

This is a wonderful career, we get to make the world a more beautiful place, we work with nature, and we get put our individual signatures on everything we do. You have to love what you do and we are fortunate to have so many people that do, each and every day.

BRRRRR!

BRRRRRRRR!!!!

Baby its cold out there!

In fact, these are the coldest temperatures we have seen in several years. You and I may be able to bundle up, but what about our plants? Is cold weather bad for plants?

Let's first assume that you have plants that are correct for our area. Obviously, plants that are normally found in southern regions will not do well in our coldest winters.

Interestingly enough, plants are very adept at preparing themselves for winter's cold.

During summer days, leaves make more glucose than the plant needs for energy and growth. The excess is turned into starch and stored until needed. As the daylight gets shorter in the autumn, plants begin to shut down their food production. As the amount of daylight gets too brief for the leaves to adequately produce food, the plant essentially cuts off the leaves from the rest of the plant. This is when we get the brilliant colors of fall. The leaves soon fall off and the tree rests for winter until the whole cycle begins again.

Evergreens, however, keep most of their leaves during the winter. They have special leaves, resistant to cold and moisture loss. Some, like pine and fir trees, have long thin needles. Others, like holly, have broad leaves with tough, waxy surfaces. On very cold, dry days, these leaves sometimes curl up to reduce their exposed surface. Evergreens may continue to photosynthesize during the winter as long as they get enough water, but the reactions occur more slowly at colder temperatures.

If only we could adapt as well to the cold!

Shades Of Green

Shades of Green

Who say winter needs to be all gray and dull? There are plenty of interesting evergreens to fill the space and add some life to the humdrum of the colder months.

We thought about making this email 50 Shades of Green but knew that no one would read such a long list. Truth be told, there are tons of plants with winter interest and color. Here are five of our favorites:

Gold Thread Cypress (Chamaecyparis pisifera 'Filifera Aurea') - Say that three times fast. Striking golden color and a floppy dog form, this is a terrific plant to use in mass or as an accent plant.

Skimmia (Skimmia japonica) - A plant for the shade. This plant has a deep olive leaf color, a white flower and red berries. No shade garden should be without it. Deer do not like to eat it!

Japanese Cedar (Caryopteria japonica 'Yoshino) - With its upright habit and interesting folliage, this is an excellent screening tree. Deer tend to leave it along so it is a wonderful alternative to Arborvitae and Leyland Cypress.

Japanese Plum Yew (Cephalotaxus harringtonia 'Prostrata') - Yes that is a mouth full but it is worth it. This low growing shrub has a very soft texture and a great year long emerald color. It can be used in sun of partial shade. Best of all, deer leave it alone!

Heavenly Bamboo (Nandina domestica) - Do not let the name fool you, this plant is not in the bamboo family. It is a brilliant semi-evergreen, meaning that in most winters it keeps it leaves. With white flowers in the spring, red berries in the fall, and reddish leaves on new growth, this is a shrub not to be missed.