Landscape Notes from ValleyCrest
September 2010
Preparing for Aeration and Seeding of Tall Fescue Lawns
If there ever is a year when tall fescue lawns can stand to benefit from fall renovation, this is the year. Many stands have been thinned considerably due to the extreme heat and drought during this record-breaking summer. Late summer
and early fall is the perfect time to seed cool-season grasses. With proper water, seeds sprout quickly and spend their first three months of growth under almost ideal conditions. Cool nights and short days favor the growth of roots while limiting excessive top growth.
Click for full ValleyCrest Seeding Article.
Landscape Notes from ValleyCrest
January 2010
Winterizing Your Landscape
What to expect in the winter month from your landscape provider:
Although the grass may not be growing, and the leaves are done falling, the winter season can have as much impact to your overall landscape management plan as the rest of the year. ValleyCrest as your maintenance provider will be performing some results-driven tasks that will pay dividends next spring.
For starters, around the first of December we’ve applied a winter fertilizer to the Fescue Turf and spot treated for broadleaf weeds. The grass may not be growing above the surface, but below ground, the roots are very active, and a good application of fertilizer will promote continual root growth which will help the turf better survive the upcoming summer heat and drought. For Bermuda turf, spot treatments for winter weeds such as annual rye, fescue and chickweed will be applied as necessary. These dark green weeds are highly visible in the tan colored Bermuda.
Ornamental and street trees provide great shade and landscape value to our landscapes. During dormant winter months these trees are Vista pruned or ‘limbed up’ and the canopy on smaller trees are pruned of crossing branches and injured stems to promote health and vigor in the near future.
Upon the first frost, most perennials begin their winter hibernation and phase into dormancy. Once all the nutrients are returned to the roots, we avoid insect and disease by cutting out all the foliage and flower stems to the ground.
Ornamental grasses too can benefit from a severe cut back in the winter similar to perennials. Liriope and some ground cover types are typically mowed just like turf to a height of 2” to promote thicker, more lush growth next spring. Miscanthus and shrub style grasses are hand pruned to an average height of 6”.
Knock-Out-Roses are one of the most visible shrubs in the North Carolina landscape, and to promote year after year return, the roses benefit from a drastic pruning, reducing their size up to 75%.
Click for full Jan 2010 ValleyCrest Newsletter
Landscape Management Notes from ValleyCrest
June 2009
Pruning
The proper pruning of trees and shrubs is an integral part of our landscape management program. This aspect is important for several reasons:
Safety - Damage can occur to person(s) and/or property by a falling limb or an unhealthy plant material left unchecked.
Security - Plant material that grows above or around security lighting can block the necessary light from fulfilling its purpose.
Health - healthy plant material is maintained by removal of dead or diseased branches. Monitoring and resolving these issues in a timely fashion lessens the potential for problems in the future.
Maintenance pruning begins after planting. In the case of older material, rejuvenation pruning should be used. Rejuvenation pruning consists of removing 1/3 to ½ of the entire top portion of the plant material. Done at the correct time of year, the plant will respond with a flush of new vigorous growth during the growing season. Proper arbor care is an integral part of our ValleyCrest maintenance program. Please keep in mind pruning and sometimes removal is essential for the health and aesthetics of the property.
