Helpful Hints and Q & A       (916) 723-3900       

Help Your Lawn and Garden Survive the Dry Summer Months:

Water your garden and lawn so that they receive at least one and one-half inches of water per week. Use a rain gauge to best estimate the amount of time needed for sprinkler applications.

Apply weed and feed fertilizer to control broadleaf weeds and clover. Apply in the morning on wet grass so that particles cling to weed foliage. Plan your application for when dry weather is forecast for at least 48 hours.

Raise mowing height to three inches to conserve water during the hot months of June through August. Lawns need high nitrogen feeding during this time.

Apply a weekly fertilizer to give vegetable plants a healthy start and keep them producing all summer long. Keep your vegetable beds watered well.

Stake tomato plants and remove suckers to ensure maximum production.

Feed roses and apply systemic insect control monthly.

Deadhead annual and perennial flowers to encourage repeat bloom. Discard spent flowers to avoid spreading disease.

If transplanting spring-flowering bulbs, such as daffodils, tulips, and minor bulbs, lift and separate at this time. Apply a fungicide treatment, and store in a cool, well-ventilated space. Allow bulbs to rest until fall before replanting.

Give annuals a weekly feeding of liquid fertilizer to keep them performing all summer long.

Fertilize flowering trees and shrubs, such as rhododendrons, azaleas and other broadleaf evergreens after blooming. This is also the best time to prune, before next year's buds have set.

Over-plant flower beds with annuals to cover late-summer bare spots.

Water newly established spring-planted trees and shrubs well. When rain is in short supply, water deeply weekly.

Get out in the garden and weed weekly. Weeds are easier to pull when young, and chemical control will not be necessary later.

Toward the end of July, thin out the cool-season vegetables, such as spinach, carrots, radishes and cool-season peas. Remove lettuce to prevent heads from bolting during warm weather.

Place netting over ripening berries to protect from birds and deer. Keep berry bushes well watered.

Get out and prune. Thin out major shade trees to increase light and improve air circulation. Tidy up dogwoods and crabapples by removing diseased wood and water sprouts. Prune deciduous and evergreen hedges. Prune climbing roses after bloom.

Cut back early season perennials such as dicentra, doronicum and poppy as foliage fades. Cut back early annuals such as pansies and impatiens for re-bloom.

In mid-July apply pre-emergent weed control in the garden bed.

In late July, de-thatch and aerate your lawn; seed new lawns, or reseed bare spots.

Pinch off and fertilize hardy mums.

        Q & A

• Is there such a thing as FREE estimates/quotes?
  Yes, and valid for 30 days.
• How long will the project take?
  This depends on the size of the project and weather conditions. We will discuss with you the timeline of your particular job in advance and provide realistic goals.
• Does the weather affect work?
  Yes, the summer months will naturally reduce the possibility of rainy days lost, but you may also find that we are booked up more around those times, so book ahead or chance the weather!
• Will you need access to electricity?
  Occasionally we need to use smaller hand tools, so access would be useful, but all our heavier equipment gas powered.
  
  
• Will you need access to water?
  Yes, access to an outside tap would be beneficial.
• Who will be doing the work?
  We will.  Our name is our reputation and our reputation is built upon our skilled team and the service we provide.
• How long have you been in business?
  We have been incorporated since 2006.
• Do you have several jobs running at the same time?
  We pride ourselves in this area as we start and finish each job before moving to the next. Therefore, the timescale of disruption is kept to a minimum and the attention is strictly yours.
• Will I be able to reach someone in case of an emergency after hours?
  The owner provides the customer with his direct cellular number for any after hours question or issue.

* The owner provides the customer with his direct cellular number for any after hours question or issue.