Landscape
Tips
Each week, GHL broadcasts
a different Landscape Tip of the Week
on WTPL
107.7 FM. Please find some tips below
with additional information and links to other sites.
If there is a specific question you have that is not
listed below, please email
us.
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Design
Why should I hire a landscape architect?
Construction
Proper Planting Techniques
Maintenance
When is the best time to prune?
Spring Lawn Diseases and Problems
Do I need a soil test?
Why
should I hire a landscape architect?
There are many benefits to hiring a landscape architect
to prepare a design for your home landscape. You would
never construct a new home without a plan. This would
result in a huge loss of time and money. The same
is true with your landscape project.
It is best to select a landscape
architect as early as possible. A design will maximize
the potential of your site and improve the connection
between the design of your home and the design of
your landscape. Construction will run smoothly and
proper materials and quantities will be selected saving
you money. The right plant will be chosen for the
right place saving you money in replacements and maintenance
costs. A design will help you decide which areas of
the landscape you should do first as well as provide
a budget for the future.
A design by a landscape architect
will be an investment that you will appreciate for
years to come.
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When
is the best time to prune?
March is a great time to prune
most trees and shrubs while they are still dormant.
Broken or dead branches should
be removed to prevent the tree from disease or insect
damage. Watersprouts or suckers should be removed
to allow light and air penetration. All pruning cuts
should be made in a way that allows the plant to close
off the wounds and resume healthy growth. Improper
pruning will encourage disease and can do more harm
than good. Be sure to use proper pruning tools that
are sharp and clean. Use the proper tool for each
cut for example, use hand pruners for small branches
and a pruning saw for larger ones. If your pruning
job requires climbing a tree, be sure to check for
power lines.
You may want to contact a certified
arborist or landscape professional for more difficult
pruning jobs. Pruning your plants will improve their
overall structural appearance and health of the tree
essentially adding to the value of your landscape.
Pruning
Evergreens in the Landscape
Pruning
Deciduous Shrubs in the Landscape
Pruning
Shade Trees in the Landscape
Proper Planting Techniques
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Spring
Lawn Diseases and Problems
Dead patches of grass is a common
sight in the spring. Water, ice, and salt damage and
pink or gray snow molds are potential causes.
Where water and ice damage
have occurred, be sure that your lawn is graded properly
to prevent water from collecting. Circular patches
on your lawn that are pink or gray is called snow
mold. Mowing your lawn in the fall until it has stopped
growing and avoiding fall nitrogen applications in
the fall which promotes new growth will help to prevent
snow mold next year. Dead or yellowed grass along
sidewalks, driveways or roads where salt has been
applied indicates salt damage. Water the area heavily
to wash away salt. Try using an alternative to salt,
such as sand or calcium chloride, next winter.
For areas where the grass is
dead or thin, raking away the dead grass and reseeding
will help your lawn recover. Be sure to reseed when
the soil is well-drained and night temperatures stay
above 35 degrees.
Lawn
Diseases Fact Sheet
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Do
I need a soil test?
Be sure your soil is in optimal
health for vigorous plant growth this season. A soil
test is the best way to determine what amendments
will be necessary to improve your soil.
The test will provide information
on ph, texture, organic matter and selected nutrients
such as calcium, potassium, and phosphorus. A report
will provide you with recommendations for lime and
fertilizers. Be aware that sometimes fertilizers are
not needed and adding too much fertilizer can burn
roots harming your plants. This is why having your
soil tested is so important. If fertilizer is recommended,
mix thoroughly into the soil for new plantings; for
existing plants, apply fertilizer evenly over the
surface of the soil and work gently into the soil.
Soil samples can be sent to
the UNH Cooperative Extension for soil testing. Check
their website for proper form, fee and directions
for taking samples at www.ceinfo.unh.edu.
Understanding
Your Soil Test Results
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Proper
Planting Techniques
Your landscape is an investment that you want to mature
and survive for many years. Be sure that your plants
are planted correctly and in the right environment.
When purchasing your plantings, be sure to read the
label for light, soil and moisture requirments. Lastly,
always keep in mind what the mature size of a plant
will be to be so it does not overgrow the area. Incorrect
planting can cause your plants to be stressed causing
disease and insect problems.
Steps
to Follow when Planting Trees and Shrubs
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