Seasonal Tips

Spring

Your landscape is going to start ramping up for the year and there are some key things that need to be addressed.

It is the start of new growth and to keep them healthy and happy, it is time to fertilize your lawn and plant beds.
Mulching is another item to consider. If you already have a nice layer of mulch, it may be necessary to give it a top-dressing.
You want to make sure that you have a good 3-4 inch layer. This will prevent the eruption of weeds that could take over your beds in the blink of an eye.
We do not usually have hard freezes for extended period of time in Jacksonville, but it is a good idea to check your irrigation for breaks in the system and to check the water coverage.
You also may want to check your gutters (if you have any) and clean them of debris. With the summer rains coming soon, you will want to prevent a “waterfall” from coming off your roof and route the water where it needs to go.

Summer

The growing season is in full swing now and everything is becoming full and lush. To maintain your beautiful landscape take note of the tips below.

Water, water, water! Wait…not too much. Your lawn it going to take a little work during the summer and making sure that you do not over or under water your lawn is part of being a good lawn owner. Depending if we have a big storm that dumps a lot of rain or we are in a drought, we have to make sure that we look for the signs of stress.
Checking your irrigation periodically during the summer is always a good thing. Make sure that the heads popping up and down like they should, your rain sensor is in working order and you are watering on the appropriate days of the week. Click here to find out more about Jacksonville’s Watering Restrictions.
Insects can be pesky during the summer months. You have to worry about the bugs that want to attack you and the ones that want to attack your landscape. Watch out for bees, wasps, fire ants, and mosquitoes. If you have too many bees, wasps, or fire ants, you may consider calling in an expert to either remove or kill them for you. Discourage the reproduction of mosquitoes by removing items that can hold water on our property. (i.e. dishes, wheel barrows). If your lawn is dying in patches or your shrubs have white scaley looking bugs on the leaves, then it would be wise to call in the professionals to rid them of your yard before they get out of hand.
Trim or shape trees and shrubs regularly. You will want to prune dead or dying limbs off of trees and prune shrubs to encourage new growth.
Weeds are in full force now, so make sure that you are maintaining them on a regular basis or you could be under full weed attack before you know what hit you. Remember that there will always be weeds, but if you maintain them now, it will take you less time than if you waited until they were out of control. Not to mention the damage to your lawn or landscape that it would do in the meantime.

Fall

Our lawn and plants are starting to wind down and growth start slowing. We now have a few different priorities to think about.

Prune back dead or dying branches at the beginning of the fall season. This will encourage new growth that will be hardy enough to survive the winter months. If you prune too late in the season, this will promote new growth that will potentially be damaged by frost.
Feritilizing and putting down a pre-emergent will create a strong root system on the plants and grass to be able to weather the winter months and help prevent damage from frost and prepare for the spring growing season.
Leaf removal can be a nuisance, but raking them up on a regular basis will prevent grass and shrubs from being smothered. The best way to do this is by raking the leaves into a large shovel, like a grain shovel, and scoop the leaves into the bag. A leaf blower may seem like it will save time, but it's hard to use a blower to make leaves go into a pile that you can put in a bag.
If you like to have flowers, such as Easter Lilies, Crinums, and Caladiums that grow from bulbs, then now is the time to plan your vision for your plant beds for spring and plant them.

Winter

The year is coming to an end, but there are still things to do to prepare for the this up-coming spring season.

Mulching is important this time of year, as it will provide a barrier against frost during the winter months.
It is necessary to cover succulent or tender plants from the cold if a freeze warning is forecast. Make sure you them cover up before dusk! By the time it gets dark much of the stored heat in the garden has already been lost. Drape a cover of newspaper, cardboard, plastic tarps, bed sheeting or any other lightweight material over the frame to create a tent. If you don't have time to create a frame, lay the protective cover directly onto the plant. This will help to slow the loss of heat rising from the foliage and the ground. Remove the covers in the morning, once the frost has thawed, to let the light and fresh air back in, and to prevent overheating by the sun.
This time of year is ideal to get lawn equipment repaired and ready for spring. Many repair shops might even offer winter discounts during this typically slow time of the year.