There are many different types and colors of mulch, making it hard to choose the best for your home. At Roses Landscapes we use a hard wood mulch in brown, black and red and the “midnight” black mulch, but we can get almost any mulch desired. Some mulches are harmful to animals due to the type of dye used in that particular brand, other mulches tend to attract insects faster due to the smell or texture. With properly using the hardwood and midnight black mulch (spreading 2 to 4 inches thick) we have found there is less weeding, more moisture that stays in the ground (this will help your plants), and less insects. There is no way to keep weeds or insects out of your beds completely, the best way we have found to help is using a 6 month pre-emergent grass killer and a seasonal granular insecticide which we do offer upon request. Pine, pine bark and shredded pine bark mulch is good to use if you have plants that like acidic soils like rhododendron, azaleas, and hydrangea to name a few. One of my favorite new mulches to get is the chocolate chip, this mulch is a little on the expensive side but looks great and has a long lasting color, if you like a dark brown mulch. As always seek a landscape specialist or your local nursery and remember choose your mulch to fit your home and taste.



One of our most frequently asked question is, “How do I trim my Crape Myrtle?”

Crape Myrtles are often mistaken as being dead in the spring and are one of the last trees to produce their foliage, usually in late April or early March. Because Crape Myrtles bloom on there “new growth” and produce their foliage so late in the season, trimming in late winter or early spring is best. However,, some light trimming after blooming may be required. Crape Myrtles tend to grow on several stems, making them a unique semi dwarf tree or shrub, which has a variety of colors and long lasting blooms. It is up to you as the plants owner to prune it how you want it. Here are a few landscaper tips. Trimming all of the lower branches and “suckers”, located at the base of the tree near the soil off close to the trunk and shaping the top yearly will allow the Crape Myrtle to grow as an upright tree. Trimming the weak or brittle inside branches will provide a neater look and more blooms. Leaving all of the lower branches except “suckers” and only pruning lightly throughout the season will allow the Crape Myrtle to grow more dense and shrub like. Trimming the entire tree down 12in to18in from the ground each year works too, the plant will flush itself with all new growth and more blooms. When planting in a row, you are wanting the trees to maintain the same overall height, take a pair of hedge trimmers or a chain saw and cut the tree down to the height you are wanting them to be. There are a few things to remember when purchasing Crape Myrtles, determine where to plant, what color, if you need a tree, at maturity growing 10ft to20ft tall or a dwarf, growing 3ft to 6ft and how many stems you are wanting at maturity. Crape Myrtles are very hardy, like moist soil, medium to high light, lots of fertilizer to promote more blooms, and will adapt to most areas. Remember, for any plant. dig the hole about twice the size of the container, add a soil conditioner, fertilizer, mulch and keep watered.

After

Retaining wall are good for many reasons. In this case, the customer likes to set on the deck and watch the wildlife, but the mess of the soil erosion, leaves and cracks in the basement were not pleasent to look at.  The hillside made any task even harder, especially walking or getting materials to the area. They were constantly having to add bagged soil, but the first time it rained the soil would wash away.  The retaining wall was nessacerry in this case to help prevent the erosion and add beauty to the home. The hillside is steep, so we also addded steps to prevent anyone from falling. You could add a small retaining wall around any flower bed to add beauty to your home and keep all of the mulch or rock in the flower beds where it belongs.

Article By Rose Harrington

In order for a plant to grow and thrive, it needs many different chemical elements, carbon, hydrogen and oxygen are vital to a plants survival. Sulfur, calcium and magnesium are secondary nutrients plants need to thrive. Plants also need boron, cobalt, copper, iron, manganese, and zinc. Nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium, are three of the most important elements a plant needs and are generally found in most packaged fertilizers. Without nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium a plant can not live. Nitrogen is vital to the Earth and everything in it therefor, nothing can survive without it. Phosphorus is a very important mineral found in most living organisms. To much phosphorus can cause many problems with plants and other living organisms. Phosphorus is used in many other things like when lighting a match, fertilizer for plants and most electronics. Potassium is essential in maintaining proper health for any living organisms. Potassium is highly reactive and usually mixed with other minerals when used. A lack of potassium can cause many sever problems in living organisms, even death, therefor, nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are three vital minerals to the Earth and all living organisms in it.

What is Fertilizer ?

The numbers on all fertilizer packages tell you a percentage of nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium found in each bag. For example 12-6-12 fertilizer has 12 percent nitrogen 6 percent phosphorus and 12 percent potassium in each bag. These days there are many different types of fertilizers and it is easy to over fertilize, therefor, selecting the right type of fertilizer for your plants can be difficult. Some fertilizers like Osmocote, Miracle Grow or Scotts have been around for years and are trusted by most home owners and nursery growers. Often times the fertilizers are made for the specific type of plants like fruits, vegetables, evergreens, blooming plants and lawns just to name a few. Always seeking a nursery or landscape specialist is a good idea if you are unsure what type of fertilizer to use on your gardens.

So Why Fertilize?

Plant survival is vital to the earth, every living thing feeds off another. As people we eat meat from animals and animals eat plants, insects, pollen and many other things, therefor, we need to do our part to insure plants grow and thrive. By planting new trees when they are cut down, planting vegetables, fruit, shrubs and flowers to give beauty to your home, oxygen to the air and food for our wildlife is another thing we can do to help mother nature.

Article By Rose Harrington