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You are only as good as your resources allow ! This means skilled workmanship and the best natural materials. In this case we used large quarried fieldstone to create a one of a kind stepping stone staircase with a boulder rail set on rammed earth with a gravel sub-base with native gravel mulch.

Storm water management is key to success before, during and after construction. Good planning and staging of materials makes all the difference in the ultimate success of a large scale project like this. The work included an irregular flagstone stepping stone path constructed with a compacted item #4 sub-base with stone dust bedding. Some joints were filled with topsoil for planting herbs and steppables as perennial ground cover.

The front lawn was removed mechanically to allow for a predominately native perennial and grass garden. Local compost as well as a special blend of soil amendments and enhancers including BioChar was incorporated into the planting mix to insure optimum performance. The soil surface was also treated with biostimulants such as Plant Magic and Quantum Growth. Yucca was applied to help with irrigation. Stay tuned to our You Tube Channel for more info on this project as well as the design development process.

Jay Archer, President

914-560-6570
greenjaylandscapedesign.com

This winter has been really mild. If you look closely you will probably see bulbs breaking the surface. Early spring is a fantastic, interesting time and season in our lives. The fresh, green smell of rebirth and renewal is in the air. It’s said that in the winter the earth inhales and in spring and summer, the earth exhales.

After these dreary, gray, overcast days we really look forward to the sun and even better…bright, vibrant, joyful color !

Nothing cheers my mood up quite like the sight of flowering plants emerging from the cold, dark ground backdropped by rich evergreens.

So get ready ! It’s not too early to think about cleaning up your property. Even if it snows or rains, by cleaning up early, edging and mulching the landscape beds, you will make sure to get the most enjoyment from your landscape. Spring cleanup is not complicated, simply remove branches, twigs and debris, mulch, chip and compost leaves. A light raking of your lawn is all you need. If the ground is soft or wet, not frozen, we might lay down plywood on the lawn so the wheelbarrows of mulch do not do any damage.

Now is the best time to prune deadwood and shape your trees and shrubs. Light pruning of hydrangea, spirea etc. would be excellent. Remember less is more if you are unsure of what to prune when. Don’t forget Hydrangea bloom on last years growth. We had a late freeze and frost followed by hot sun last spring which certainly limited flowering last summer season. Talk to your local cooperative extension for more info. For more info on pruning look to Dirr,s Manual of Woody Plants (the Bible) or check out Lee Reich,s ; The Pruning Book. This is an awesome resource !

Mulch before the bulbs and perennials come out so you or your landscape crews don’t step on the tender eyes and fragile/vulnerable new growth. I absolutely feel better when I’m not waiting for spring to start because let’s tell the truth, I don’t know when that would happen but I know if I plan early I will be ready at any time to enjoy the joyful blossoms of early spring…so don’t miss it !

Jay Archer, President
914-560-6570
greenjaylandscapedesign.com

We are so busy in the late fall we don’t always see winter coming!

To insure you get the most out of your landscape, sit down and write a punch list. It can be a short or long one (see our blog; Preparing Your Landscape for Winter).

Instead of raking and discarding leaves on the lawn, collect them and mulch the.

Do you mulch the leaves with a mulching mower? Do you leave leaves in the beds? Shredded leaves are good organic matter. If you have a lot of oak trees you may want to consider not shredding as some insect species need the whole leaves. If you really want to manage your property in the best ecologically green way, make informed decisions. Now is a good time to consider things you may not have gotten around to. Bat boxes are a good idea. Protecting your landscape from deer and animal damage as well as salt and wind burn is helpful. We all continually invest resources ($) in the maintenance of our landscapes. It would be smart to do the little things that protect our investments.

We conduct many landscape site analysis and evaluations at this time of year so we can make recommendations and informed decisions for the upcoming year.

Look at drainage areas as well as any areas which mice can enter in your foundation etc. so you can avoid spending quality time trapping them latter.

We can’t think of everything but if you take the time to consider your list you will be better off.

Now is also the time to ask yourself are you happy with the quality of service provided by your landscape management company.

To insure that we get the most out of our landscape environment in terms of enjoyment and preserving our continued investment in our properties appearance and value, I suggest making a list of tasks you can perform which prepare your landscape for winter.

1) Water

If you have new plantings, you may have to continue to water until the ground freezes. The most common cause of landscape planting failure in the fall is lack of hydration causing roots to freeze dry. The damage is usually not noticed until spring.

Make sure your irrigation system is drained, usually by blowing out the lines with compressed air. Best done by a professional service. If you do not follow best practices and procedures, for instance apply too much pressure to a zone, you can damage the system.

Turn off all exterior hose bibs (faucets) from the inside. Don’t forget to open the outside valve to drain ! This avoids frozen pipes and costly repairs.

Evaluate drainage, especially pooling and ares of standing water on hardscape surfaces that potentially cause slip and fall issues.

2) Gutter and Leader cleaning

Be sure you clean the roof, gutters and leaders of leaves, debris etc.. This includes checking even if you have gutter guards or screens. Even asphalt shingles degrade over time. Use a hose to flush gutters and leaders with water to insure they and the drains they empty into are functioning.

Use ball screens to keep leaves out of leaders.

3) Storm Drains and Catch Basins

Made sure all drainage services are functioning. Either check in the rain or flush with a hose. Clean exposed grates etc.

4) Air Conditioning Units (condensers)

You can save money and extend the life of your air conditioner by maintaining/cleaning the condenser. To do that first unplug or turn off power, then unscrew top cover, brush fan blades, vacuum out box, use a compressor to blow out coils, power wash if necessary. We also like to spray a product called Shock Wave to eliminate corrosion/rust and mold. You need to wash it off after applying because it is hydrogen peroxide based. Last, reattach cover and cover the top of the unit with plywood and a stone (to keep it from blowing off). This will eliminate debris from getting in. This insures optimum efficiency, sustainability and longevity.

5) Window Wells

Inspect and make sure you cover all window wells with a plastic cover to keep snow and ice from freezing, expanding and cracking concrete infrastructure etc.

6) Garden Maintenance

Shred leaves for mulch if desired for beds. Cleanup spent perennials after frost, remove dead annuals. Lightly prune shrubs. Feed with organic fertilizer for all small trees and shrubs (use acid loving where appropriate, ex. Hollytone for azaleas, rhododendrons, hydrangea, blueberries, hollies etc.) to increase root development.

Don’t starve your plants if you love them!

Use an antidessdicant to protect evergreens from winter burn. We like the product Moisture Loc (www.conserawater.com). One of the advantages, beside the cost savings (application rate 10-1), is you can spray/treat all evergreens including arborvitae and blue spruce. Nurseries and growers use this as a BMP (Best Management Practice).

7) Deer Repellant

Don’t forget to protect your plants from winter deer browse!

Even if you don’t usually see damage, it’s a long winter with snow in the forecast. If you don’t fence in your plants you should spray them on a warm day. We like the Deer Free Winter Armor product (www.gardengirls.com).

This will help repel deer while also reducing winter burn.

8) Tree Maintenance and Forestry Management

Late fall and winter is an ideal time to prune and shape your ornamental trees and shrubs. Anytime is a good time to remove dead wood, especially hangers and loose branches overhanging driveways, walkways etc. When the leaves are off the trees is the ideal time to remove invasives and selectively thin less desirable species to improve health and competition.

Creating wood chip paths, walks and general land clearing can be undertaken.

9) Landscape Design Development Plans

Big or small, whatever your plans or desires for your landscape, it’s never to soon to plan for your future enjoyment of your home and landscape. Make a wish list. Talk to a design professional. Make a plan, a budget and a schedule.

Plant bulbs for Wow effect now! Don’t let another year go by without improving your landscape.

A characteristic of ‘Landscapes for Better Living’ is generous displays of spring flowering bulbs. There is nothing like the effect of waves and drifts of color to brighten up a dreary spring day in mud season like flowering bulbs!

The most successful landscape designs include spring flowering bulbs in the planning. This also reinforces the need for a well developed plan.

Sweeps of daffodils in an early spring woodland landscape.

Last fall and early winter we created some really sensational plans, such as the ‘Where Heaven Smiles’ landscape. Our best work usually starts with a theme as well as design concept. This is a good example of careful planning and phased installation and construction. This project involved custom masonry, carpentry, storm water management, a large water feature (natural swimming pool with stream and waterfall) extensive planting designed to attract beneficial insects, birds and butterflies etc.

The planting produced a continuously colorful display throughout the season. Screening and framing was considered important to create rooms with a water view and a sense of intimacy. Architectural drawings/plans and permits were required. Even the smallest details were considered and allowed for. For instance, while the swimming pond is filtered and cleaned primarily biologically (bog garden/bio-filter, probiotic bacteria inoculants http://www.microbelift.com), we also have a large mechanical filter, UV sterilizer and ionizer, which took up space and required careful placement and screening. For this purpose we used a very large Dekorra (dekorraproducts.com) faux rock. This project took nine months to complete. Coordinated teamwork was essential for timing, budgeting and efficiency.

Talk to us today about consulting and landscape development. Together we can create a dynamic, one of kind landscape, uniquely suited to your taste and needs.