March 9, 2009It’s Pruning Time Again
People underestimate the value of plants.
Time flies, and by having such a close relationship with trees and shrubs I am regularly amazed at how much, and how fast,
they grow. After 20 years, I find shrubs on client’s property that were once 18" tall in a pot, now towering
20' over my head. Well, that shrub that cost $15 in 1989 would now cost $300.00. It is truly an appreciating asset,
and being alive it does need care. Proper pruning this time of year goes a long way toward protecting the value of these mature
plants. If you wants some tips, a lesson or a quote on helping plants reach their potential give me a call. inquire@nelanddesign.com
11:32 am edt
February 23, 2009I can’t believe the deer ate the whole thing
Well, its banquet season again, the deer are all dressed up to visit and eat landscaping.
There are more deer around now than at any time in history and they gobble up tasty Arborvitae like popcorn. Also landscape
plants are vitamin packed, so there will never be a steroid controversy. Suburban living has created the perfect environment
for deer. Their lifestyle is OK in the forest, but these uninvited dinner guests should be asked to leave. Eating the decorations
is just rude. Call for some advice or service -- we can help keep the deer out. inquire@nelanddesign.com
11:31 am edt
January 10, 2009Winter, So far so good
The consistent snow cover and temperatures “so far” this winter should reduce winter injury
to plants, though with nature one can never really be certain. Wide fluctuation in temperature causes harm more often than
consistently subfreezing temperatures. A really cold night or two followed by a couple of warm days wreak havoc. Rhododendrons
tend to be an indicator species. You will notice dead leaves in June and July and not realize that it is a delayed reaction
from winter. With many plants it is possible to help minimize winter damage, most of the time winter damage is simply caused
by improper planting or a plant is trying to survive in the wrong place. This season the primary concern will be with the
ice damage taken in December. We can help with any type winter damage. inquire@nelanddesign.com
11:29 am edt
December 14, 2008Ice Damage Cometh
Wow! Now that my power is back on, it is time to clean up the yard. The landscape in my back yard rearranged
itself with a loud bang-snap-crackle. I’m lucky the tree just missed the house though it flattened the picnic table.
Next day it turns out it was not the whole tree just the branches of a white pine. Our yard was strafed by mini pine trees;
I never realized how big they are up there. Two dump trucks of branches later and the lawn is uncovered
for winter. I’m not too worried about the pine with the “Mohawk” hair cut, pines will leak sap to bandage
the wounds and it should be fine. But local damage to other more venerable, and valuable focal trees will be significant. Let me know if I can help repair, prune or replace any of your valuable
trees and shrubs. inquire@nelanddesign.com
11:23 am edt
November, 6, 2008Foot Prints
I am finding a lot of talk
about footprints in the global warming debate. It seems the amount of carbon you produce can be accounted for and the total
is your personal carbon footprint. Thats cool, but then it occurs to me if you can count carbon molecules you can count landscaping's
impact on the ecology also. One of the benefits of being in the landscape Green industry is that we are in one of the few
endeavors that reduces your carbon footprint. Plants consume carbon, and lots of it. inquire@nelanddesign.com
October 19, 2008Brown Leaves to Greener
Future Even though I do not look forward to raking leaves,
I do look forward to the reward they bring. Dried crunch leaves are full of carbon so this makes them the perfect ingredient
to compost with nitrogen. Luckily grass clippings are full of nitrogen. So when I mix together 1 part leaves to 3 parts grass
I am creating the perfect environment for aerobic decomposition. It’s “Wally World” for bacteria. They will
party converting this mixture into a pile of plant growing, fertilizer rich compost in about a year. You can solve two problem
piles at once. inquire@nelanddesign.com
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