DIGS

Pansy Problems?

2012-01-25T11:07:00.000-05:00

What a mild winter we've been having!

You fellow Richmonders probably noticed that your pansies were looking great up until we had that cold snap last week.

You also might be wondering 'Hey! I thought pansies were cold-weather annuals? Why do they look weary after the cold snap?'

As our friend Richard Nunnally so succinctly explained in his Gardening Q & A column on Saturday, the unseasonably warm (60 degree!) weeks leading up to the cold snap allowed your pansy plantings to grow some tender new foliage. Unfortunately this new foliage was still a bit too tender to be unharmed by the sub-freezing night time temperatures last week.

What can you do about this?

Right now, let them be. It would be unwise to try to fertilize now since there is likely still some cold winter weather in store for us and fertilizing now would promote more foliage growth resulting in the same frost damage. Once we've gotten through February, you could fertilize your pansies (in early March) for a beautiful show through March and April.

While we're on the topic of beautiful pansy plantings, what is your favorite color combination? Do you like to plant yellows and bronzes to coordinate with autumn plantings? Do you prefer red and white to coordinate with Christmas? Or maybe you like pastels so that when your spring bulbs are blooming, your pansies coordinate? We'd love to hear your opinion-- Everyone's taste is different!

Welcome, 2012!

2012-01-10T11:59:00.000-05:00

It's such a great feeling to start a new year, don't you think?

Here at Robbins Landscaping we like to spend time in the first few weeks of the year to really evaluate what we want to accomplish in the coming year. These winter weeks are a fresh start, a renewed commitment to our clients and our work.

Here are some of the professional goals that our team members have for 2012:

Chris plans to establish a LinkedIn account to better network with clients and other professionals

Tommy plans to improve the organization of the office systems and procedures

Sarah plans to use Outlook more effectively and to become better organized

Jesus wants to help others by teaching the irrigation experience that he has

John wants to improve daily efficiencies as well as equipment usage

Alex wants to improve his communication with his clients

Luke wants to perform the Commercial Landscape Maintenance to the best of his ability

What are your goals? What are some goals that other small businesses have? We are inspired by the resolutions others commit to- share yours with us!

The Stahr's Front Walkway

2011-12-19T11:54:00.000-05:00

Hi all! We're here today to share some photos from a project we finished last week for the Stahr family!

David and Kristen Stahr live in Ashland, VA. Their home is tucked away in the beautiful, wooded country and they called us needing help with the entrance to their home.

Over the summer, David had built a really nice front porch and stairs for their home which led to the idea of a new front walkway.

The existing walkway was a simple, concrete path that likely was installed when the home was built a few decades ago. The concrete was cracking and the sharp right angle of the path was less-than convenient to use, particularly in relation to where the Stahrs parked their cars in the driveway.

The need for a new walkway that was more conducive to the Stahrs' daily life was evident. Some of the details of the project included the need to incorporate the already existing stairs and porch into the design for a seamless transition into the house as well as a wheelchair ramp.

Tom and I met with the Stahrs several times to finalize the drawing for the project and in late-November, we were ready to move forward.

Our design build team assigned to this project was John, Juan, and Jesus. The crew worked for three long days last week to create the new entrance! All their hard work paid off, though, because the Stahrs are absolutely thrilled with their experience with Robbins Landscaping! On the second day of the install, Kristen sent me this message:

"...Because my work desk is right by the window, I’ve been able to see some of the progress and have been impressed with how conscientious the guys have been with making sure things are “perfect”. I’m so thankful to you and your team for all you’ve done to help make this work for us. It looks better than I ever could have imagined, and that’s being said before the job is even completed.

Take care,

Kristen"

Here are some pictures of the final project:

John, Juan, and Jesus did a particularly good job making sure that the grade of the patio matched the grade of the bottom step... no toe-stubbing here!

David and Kristen are really pleased with the end result! This is the message that Kristen sent me on the evening that the crew finished:

" Sarah,
All I can say is wow! I literally got tears in my eyes when I saw the yard after it was finished. It is truly unbelievable! I could not be any happier with it and don’t know how to thank you guys enough... It really is better than I could have hoped for.

Thanks again, Sarah – and Tom, for all your patience and hard work with getting this together for us. It’s truly beautiful!
-Kristen"

Thank you to the Stahrs for the opportunity to work together on this project! We enjoyed the experience and are looking forward to continuing to help you transform your home landscape!

Welcome to the Team, Bruce!

2011-11-30T10:10:00.000-05:00

The Robbins Landscaping Team would like to introduce you to our newest team member, Bruce Clay!

Bruce joined our company in October as a Landscape Consultant. He brings with him many years of landscape design and installation experience, and we are thrilled to be working with him.

Bruce earned his Bachelor's degree in Landscape Architecture from Michigan State University. He has spent 26 years designing and building landscapes that make his clients happy and he is excited to build relationships with our clients and vendors!

Bruce specializes in designing landscapes and hardscapes as well as outdoor lighting plans. Through his designs, Bruce focuses on emphasizing and enhancing the beauty of structures, landscape elements, and spaces.

In his free time, Bruce enjoys hunting for Civil War relics and working estate sales with his wife, Lisa.

Welcome to the Robbins Landscaping Team, Bruce! We are so excited that you have joined us!

Giving Thanks

2011-11-23T12:11:00.000-05:00

Hi all!

While we try to be thankful daily for our many blessings, we thought it was appropriate to share with you all some things that we are thankful for today-you know, in the spirit of the holiday! Here it is...

Robbins Landscaping is THANKFUL for:

Loyal and friendly clients- Our clients are the lifeblood of our business and we thoroughly enjoy engaging with and serving our clients!

Conscientious and enthusiastic co-workers- let's face it, we spend more time with our co-workers than our families and it's nice to get along with our fellow team members!

This year's weather- Despite the fact that the rain and hurricane of this fall made completing projects and services a challenge, we are thankful that this year wasn't as dry as last year!

The beauty of nature- We love what we do and we are so thankful that we can be part of an effort to showcase the beauty of nature!

The Greater Richmond Community- We feel so lucky to be a part of such an energetic, culturally-rich, and close-knit community!

Happy Thanksgiving Everyone!

We hope you have a wonderful holiday and that you have much to be thankful for!

Add Value to Your Home!

2011-11-22T09:29:00.000-05:00

While reading the Richmond Times Dispatch a few weeks ago, I stumbled upon a helpful article entitled: 'What are the best ways to add value to your home?'

I thought I'd share the answers since we are all looking to add value these days:

-Remodel a home office
-Renovate or add a family room
-Replace the roof
-*Landscape your yard*
-Replace old windows
-Remodel your basement
-Paint (neutral colors)
-Remodel your kitchen
-Remodel or add a bathroom

And since this is a landscaping-based blog, I'll share the reasons why landscaping adds value to your home:

"...landscaping can give a great-or not so great- first impression. Backyard landscaping can transform ordinary spaces into incredible entertaining areas by including elegant water features and lush plants...your new landscaped yard adds value to your home and increases your living space."
-Richmond Times Dispatch, Saturday, October 15, 2011.

So there you have it: just one more reason that professional landscaping is a great idea!

E-Myth Landscape Contractor--It's here!

2011-11-15T13:49:00.000-05:00

We received a fun package in the mail yesterday; after quickly unwrapping it we discovered that The E-Myth Landscape Contractor book by Michael E. Gerber and Tony Bass had arrived!

Tony Bass, our long-time friend and business consultant, has partnered with Michael Gerber to write this fantastic book tailored specifically to the landscape contracting industry!

Doug was so lucky as to have had the opportunity to read the book before publishing! Check out Doug's review!

Congratulations to Tony Bass and Michael Gerber on a job well done! For all of you Green Industry professionals out there, take some time to read the book; it's a wealth of insight!

Note: we were not perked or paid to promote this book; we just think it's good enough to tell you about!

Our Heartfelt Thanks

2011-11-11T09:36:00.000-05:00

On this Veteran's Day we'd like to send a very heartfelt thank you to all of our servicemen and servicewomen along with their families and friends for the sacrifice and service they have given to our country.

We appreciate all that they have done and continue to do in order that we may live the American Dream.

On this day of remembrance we carry in our hearts the recognition of the veterans that so bravely and selflessly served and continue to serve our country.

"In November 1919, President Wilson proclaimed November 11 as the first commemoration of Armistice Day with the following words: 'To us in America, the reflections of Armistice Day will be filled with solemn pride in the heroism of those who died in the country’s service and with gratitude for the victory, both because of the thing from which it has freed us and because of the opportunity it has given America to show her sympathy with peace and justice in the councils of the nations…' "
-United States Department of Veterans Affairs

Thank you.

(Robbins Landscaping Team Members helping the Autry Family though GreenCare for Troops, Spring 2010)

Congratulations Dr. Day!

2011-11-09T09:48:00.000-05:00

A heartfelt 'CONGRATULATIONS' goes out to Dr. Susan Day for being awarded the 2010 International Society of Arborculture's Early-Career Scientist Award!

Image from here

Dr. Day is a dedicated professor in Virginia Tech's Forestry and Horticulture Departments and her research and innovations help the industry to make progress in Urban Design.

Congratulations, Dr. Day! We are so happy for you!

Videos from Nancy Ross Hugo!

2011-11-08T16:16:00.000-05:00

Picture from here

Nancy Ross Hugo, a fantastic Horticulturist, floral designer extraordinaire, and author, has written a new book that focuses on the trees we Richmonders would find in our own neighborhoods!

Check out what she has to say about these common trees (you might learn something new about the dogwood flower!)

Tulip Poplar

Southern Magnolia

Flowering Dogwood

(Videos from the Richmond Times Dispatch)

Fall is for Planting!

2011-11-08T10:00:00.000-05:00

Any savvy homeowner knows that fall is for planting; all the local garden centers, newspapers, and home improvement magazines tell us that! But why is fall a perfect time to plant?

First, from a horticultural standpoint: "Fall is the preferred time to plant in central Virginia. . . [Fall planting] allows the roots to get acclimated to your soil without having to suffer through high summer temperatures and limited moisture. The cooler soil temperatures are ideal for root growth and we normally have adequate moisture from rain during the fall months." -Richard Nunnally, 'Gardening Q & A'
Richmond Times Dispatch 9/3/2011

Second, from the homeowner's perspective: Fall is a great time to plant so that your landscape can look its best during the holiday season. Homeowners that are planning to host holiday gatherings should consider sprucing up their landscaping before guests arrive!

Third, from the investment perspective: fall is a great time to see discounts on plant materials! Many nurseries would prefer to sell off the season's stock instead of over-wintering it at their site, which translates to savings for you!

Whether you want to muscle a landscape installation on your own or call in the pro's, now is the time to add bulbs, fall annuals, shrubs, and trees to your landscape.

Happy planting!

Client Testimonial

2011-11-04T08:34:00.000-04:00

We were excited and fortunate to receive the testimonial below from our client, Miki Greene. Part of our company's written Purpose is: "...to impress clients by creating and maintaining landscapes that make them happy." We strive to make our clients happy every day, and this kind of encouragement really hits home for us:

“I wanted to write you an email to let you know about the incredible workmanship that was completed by your company. There are not enough words to descrive how awesome your team is. When I first called to discuss the project with Tommy, he gave me all the information I needed to set up the appointment and to understand your process for work. He was patient and treated me with great respect as I outlined what i needed for my yard. He did not downplay the size of the project, but instead offered me ideas and an opportunity to meet with your designer Bruce. This is the first view of your company and Tommy really shined. He was extremely clear about how the project would proceed and gave me detailed explanations about your policies and processes.

Bruce arrived within a week to examine my yard. He had the toughest job of all because he had to deal with all my anxiety about the changes that I needed to make. He was also very respectful, kind, patient, and all around just wonderful to me and my husband. Bruce is a VERY talented individual who 'oozes' with innovation and creativity!!!! He immediately assessed what I needed and knew exactyl what we should do to update our front yard. His ability to work with the client, understand needs, and offer great options is what 'sold' me on your company. I interviewed several other landscaping companies in the area, and up to this point NO ONE even came close to competing with your company and staff.

Then the big day came for work to begin. Everything happened EXACTLY as it was outlined by your staff. I am extremely impressed by the organization and ability of you team to work together. I attribute this organization to your Project Manager, Tom. Tom is a gift from heaven!! He came on the site and assessed the work that was progressing. He immediately worked with the team to understand how the project was going and to help them with a few small questions they needed resolved. He did not interfere with what they were doing, but worked to help assist them as needed. I loved the way he treated them- as owners of their work rather than people to be dictated to. Tom worked with me on plant arrangements and quickly changed my design when we realized that I needed to move one of the trees to a different location. He took ownership for this project and flawlessly translated my design into a beautiful reality.

Lastly, BUT BY NO MEANS LEAST, I want to applaud you for hiring such incredibly smart, inventive, polite, and again 'all around wonderful' landscapers and hardscapers. These men did a phenomenal job executing my project. They were some of the most professional people I have had come to do work at my home. They assisted me with all my MANY questions, and did not consider my input an 'intrusion' on their work. The quality of the work completed was top notch and I cannot say enough good things about your staff!!”

- Miki Greene

Thank you for sharing your experience, Mrs. Greene!

The Why, When, and How of Mulching

2011-11-03T09:59:00.000-04:00

We all know that it's good to mulch your beds periodically because it makes your yard look tidy and fresh which keeps the neighbors happy, right?

But there's more to mulching that just aesthetics! We're here to tell you all you need to know about mulching so that you can make informed decisions about mulching your yard this season!

Why Mulch?
Mulching benefits your landscape in several ways, most of which are very important to the health of your plants and soil:

1. Mulching helps promote water retention around the root structures of your plants making rainfall and irrigation more effective and protecting your plants during hot, dry conditions.
2. Mulching also protects your plants during the cold: a proper mulch layer around your plants' root systems helps to prevent frost heave and protect against winter damage to your plants.
3. Mulching helps suppress weed growth: a proper layer of mulch helps to diminish the number of weed seeds that germinate in your beds. Let's face it, we all want fewer weeds!
4. Mulch also helps reduce erosion of valuable topsoil. Bare soil is easily carried away from your beds with the wind, rain, snow melt, or even human and animal traffic. A proper layer of mulch protects your valuable topsoil and preserves your healthy growing sites.

When Should You Have Your Landscape Mulched?
The best time to mulch is between early December and mid-late February. There are several reasons to mulch during this time:
1. Mulching during this time of year gives you the best value for your investment! Material is often less expensive and it is faster and easier for those spreading the mulch to get proper coverage when perennials and plant leaves are gone for the winter.
2. Mulching during December, January, and February protects plants' roots from cold and freezing which is critical to plant success.
3. Mulching during December, January, and February allows the soil to retain moisture necessary during the spring growth flush, which will help your plants look great when they put on new growth.
4. Once the leaves have fallen and your plants go dormant, mulching gives your landscape a fresh, tidy appearance for the holidays and winter months.

How Should You Have Your Landscape Mulched?
It is important to mulch properly in order to reap the benefits of mulching:
1. When mulching is complete you should have a mulch covering approximately 3 " thick spread throughout your beds. Areas prone to rapid decomposition should be considered and mulched accordingly.
2. Mulch should never build up around the trunks of trees and shrubs as it may retain water near the trunk and promote disease. Mulch around trees and shrubs should maintain the ideal 3" depth.
3. You should have your beds mulched every year or every other year depending on the decomposition rate of your site. Ideally, you want a healthy covering of mulch throughout the year, so if your mulch has decomposed considerably in one year's time, you should have your beds re-mulched.

Hope we were able to shed some light on the Why, When and How of Mulching!

Thanks for stopping by!

(All information is supported by numerous papers, studies and texts published and used by Virginia Tech and the Virginia Cooperative Extension.)

Friday Funday!

2011-08-12T16:43:00.000-04:00

It's been almost 2 weeks since our last post on 'The D's Outdoor Living Makeover!' and a lot has happened during that time! In fact, we've finished the project!

But before we show you all the beautiful finished photos, let me catch you up on what we've done since the pergola was started:

1. Pergola construction was completed, and detail work was finished
2. Electricity, lights, and fans were installed
3. Outdoor Kitchen was installed and faced
4. Stepping stone path was installed from the patio to the deck stairs
5. Plantings were installed and mulched
6. Driveway apron was installed
7. Furniture was delivered and arranged! (That part was all The D's- and it looks fantastic!)
8. The post-installation final clean up left everything 'sparkling'

So let's dive into details:

Last Friday was an exciting day on the job site; any onlooker would have thought we were throwing a mid-day party (in the sweltering Richmond heat...)

Note the makeshift cooling device that Jamie's crews temporarily rigged up:

So what went on during out little installation fete?

Jamie and his crew were up on the scaffolding putting the finishing touches on the pergola:

Jimmie, the electrician, was scooting around from appliance to appliance installing the electricity and making sure that everything worked just fine.

The Custom Kitchen Creations crew was busy installing the kitchen frame with help from Tom: (a very cumbersome task)

And Alex and his crew were busy with our regular maintenance visit: mowing, pruning, weeding, and generally cleaning up.

Including Tom, who was project managing, and Sarah, who was documenting, the 'mid-day party' boasted 13 (rather sweaty) attendees!

All the hot-weather-hard-work paid off, though, and after last Friday we were able to wrap the project up in a few short days!

We will be taking some post-project photos with the D's next week, so we'll share those with you as soon as we have them, but in the meantime, here are a few teaser shots to get you drooling over the finished product!

oooh:

ahhh:

!!!!!!!!!:

We'll be back next week with the final photos!
But while you wait, let us know the craziest home improvement project you've done during the dog days of summer! Any of them as well-attended as our 'mid-day party'?

11 days in!

2011-07-25T11:24:00.000-04:00

Hi all!
We're back with another updated of the "D's Outdoor Living Makeover!" project:

We are now 11 days into the project and this is what the worksite is looking like:

Not too shabby!

Just for a little perspective, here's what the worksite looked like a mere 11 days ago:

Big difference already!

So what's been accomplished since our last update?

Well, as you can see, the moldings are now in place that surround the wooden beams and posts as well as those that 'finish' the edges of the footing holes in the patio.

Remember how the beams and posts looked like this last week?

Also, as you can see in the picture below, we've stealthily 'hidden' the electric line in one of the posts:

We'll show you why we decided to do that when everything is all done!

We've still got a lot of work to do on the pergola before we start on the kitchen. Jamie, our stellar carpenter, will be sweating here at the worksite (it has been ridiculously hot here in Richmond!) for a little longer:

Back in a few for some more progress reports!

Week 2: Starting the Vertical

2011-07-20T15:03:00.000-04:00

Hi all!

Back with exciting news from 'The D's Outdoor Living Makeover!' Project:

Here's a quick re-cap of what's happened thus far: The D's have decided to transform their back yard into an outdoor living oasis! We've designed and begun to install a patio/trellis/outdoor kitchen area for them that will provide them with an all-inclusive outdoor space. (For details see here, here, and here.)

So when we last checked in, the project area had gone from looking like this on Monday:

To looking like this on Friday:

Since then, though, we've made some exciting progress!

First, Dionicio, Jesus, and Jose M. were able cut and install the triangular- shaped pieces of paver to fill the spaces between the soldier course and the 45-degree patio pattern:

This step took a great deal of painstaking measuring, re-measuring (what's that old addage? 'measure once, cut twice'?) and very careful cutting. All the attention to detail paid off, though! The patio looks beautiful!

As you can see in the photo above, we've left some special electrical sleeves that will eventually provide power to the outdoor kitchen. (Remember our planning from here?)

*In this case we knew about the need for electricity before the installation of the patio, but we find that it's always a good idea to leave sleeves for any potential future work when installing a hardscape. That way, if the homeowner decides later that they would like outdoor lighting or irrigation, the installation process for those elements are significantly easier and less destructive to the existing landscape!

So now that the patio is installed, we've moved on to the trellis!
Here's what the structure is looking like right now:

You can see we've got the vertical posts installed as well as 2 of the 4 horizontal beams.

Right now the diagonal scaffolding-like pieces are supporting the structure in place as the posts cure in the handy footings we constructed:

You can't see the footing construction anymore because we laid pavers over the footing sites for a seemless effect (the area with the re-bar will be cleaned up once the trellis is finished up!):

Can you almost imagine how this is going to come together!?

Back soon with more trellis progress!

Has anyone ever installed a trellis? Anyone else out there lusting after such a beautiful outdoor living feature?

Progress Report: The end of the week

2011-07-15T18:04:00.000-04:00

It's Friday, and we're back with another 'The D's Outdoor Living Makeover' progress report! A lot has happened since our last update!

Once we got the grade set just right and the footings poured (see those details here) it was time to prepare the base for the patio.

Many, many yards of crush and run stone went into this process, and our plate compactor and skid steer were the all-star tools of the day!

Basically, in order to set a strong, stable base for a patio, we like to lay geo-textile fabric and add several inches of sand and then several inches of compacted stone in order to stabilize the pavers and prevent patio warping from tree roots or freeze-thaw cycles. To create the stone part of the base we alternate spreading a layer of stone and compacting the base until we have built up to the desired depth. It's also important to note that we like to prepare an area a bit larger than the size of the patio so that we have several feet of stable soil/sand/stone material on all outside edges of the patio as well. We finish the look by feathering this part of the base into the existing grade of the yard and covering it with some quality topsoil to allow for sod or seed to make a seamless transition from the patio into the yard. (This approach also allows for excellent drainage off the patio and away from the house.)

So during the base preparation portion, the work area went from looking like this:

To looking like this by mid-day on Wednesday:

Here are some action shots of this process:

Notice that we bring the stone and sand over to the work site bucket by bucket using the skid steer. Though the process of moving materials is tedious, it is necessary as the trucks that deliver the material can get no closer to the work area. Thank goodness for the skid steer!

By the end of the day Wednesday, the base was nearly prepared, the electric sleeves were in, the footings were curing, and everything was ready for Thursday: Paver Day!

Here's a quick peek at the materials we used for the patio:

We had 6 palettes of these beige beauts delivered to the site.

Dionicio, Jose M and Jesus spent all day Thursday laying out the soldier course (edging) on the deck side of the patio as well as the 'meat and potatoes' of the patio which sits at a 45 degree angle from the soldier course- a really beautiful effect! At the end of the day Thursday, this is what we were looking at:

Beautiful, huh? It's amazing how quickly things begin to take shape once the pavers go in!
Also, notice how those black footings are now at grade- we actually built the grade up to be flush with the top of each of these. (We had placed them at varying heights based on the desired grade.)

So, with the pattern in place, the crew spent most of the day today (Friday) using a string line to meticulously check the angles on each row of pavers. It might seem overly cautious to check every paver row for precise angle measurements, but if one row gets even slightly off, the effect is compounded by every row after it, leaving a really evident flaw in the pattern of the overall patio.

So for a few hours. Dionicio and Jesus pulled string while Jose shifted, hammered, and wiggled pavers until the lines were just right. It's all about the details!

Once the lines were right, it was time to begin measuring for the cuts that needed to be made to the pavers to fill the gaps between the soldier course and the 45 degree pavers:

(Don't worry- we fixed that one on the end!)

At this point we've wrapped up week 1 of 'The D's Outdoor Living Makeover!'

What's next?
We'll be posting next week as we start the pergola installation, finish up the patio and begin working on the kitchen. Exciting things to come! Stay tuned!

Progress Report 1: 1.5 Days in!

2011-07-12T16:03:00.000-04:00

It's lunchtime on day 2 of 'The D's Outdoor Living Makeover' and we've got some progress for you!

For those of you who missed yesterday's post, here's a quick recap:

Our clients, 'The D's' want to transform their back deck area into an all-inclusive outdoor living area, and after weeks of planning for the project we broke ground yesterday! Over the next 2 weeks we'll be keeping you posted on all of the exciting progress!

So at the start of the project, the space looked like this:

Right now it's looking like this:

Different, huh? As for the progress of what we've done so far, we like lists over here, so we'll show you in list form what we've crossed off thus far:

Day 1:
-~~Excavate patio/kitchen/pergola area to prepare for patio base~~
-~~Compact excavated area with plate compactor and hand tamper to leave a smooth, hard base~~
-~~Lay and pin geotextile fabric over compacted area~~
-~~Measure out rough grading for patio to include slope that allows for proper drainage~~
-~~Measure and mark locations for 4 trellis posts~~
-~~Dig 4 footings for trellis posts in patio area~~
-~~Insert form for trellis footings into holes~~

Day 2:
-~~Perfect the rough grade to be guide for patio construction~~
-~~Plan out location for electrical lines (so that the outdoor kitchen will have power!)~~
-Trench and lay sleeve for electric line
-Pour concrete around trellis footing forms
-Pour concrete into trellis footing forms and set re-bar
-Roughly lay crushed stone base for patio

So, as you can see, we're making some progress! Day 1 went pretty smoothly! We accomplished what we had planned and left the site at a good stopping point to pick up again this morning.
Day 2 (today) has been a little bit slow-going...

Tom, Dionicio, Jesus and Jose M. spent most of the morning working on perfecting the grade. 'All morning' was a bit longer than we had planned to spend on grade-measuring, but in all honesty, folks, this is one of the most important steps! If the foundation of the project isn't just right, the whole project will be off. So we gladly spent extra time measuring, re-measuring, adjusting strings (by quarter inches, literally!) and re-measuring again until the guide strings for the grade were just right.
Here's proof:

Once the string lines for the grade were set, the guys were able to really gauge where the posts for the pergola are going to be set.
Because the pergola will sit on the patio, above the kitchen, designing the footings for the structure took some thought. This is a preliminary visual of the idea Tom came up with:

For a brief synopsis: these cylinders will be cemented (concreted, really) into the holes in which they rest. They will then be filled with concrete to a pre-determined height and a piece of re-bar will be set into the concrete. After some fancy carpentry, the re-bar will drive into the pergola post and, viola!(More on that once we start the pergola construction!)

So, to prepare for the concrete pouring, Dionicio and Tom used the guide strings to determine the exact location for the placement of the re-bar, and Jose M. and Jesus poured the concrete (making sure, of course, not to ruin the string lines!)

*Side Note: We did have to move the cylinders a little, too. Again, by just inches, but the foundation must be right!

Then it was time to rough out the area for the kitchen so we could plan for the electricity:

The orange lines are the future grill/kitchen area! You can see it right?

Next comes the roughing of the electricity lines:

Tom and Dionicio did some hands-on figuring here but did get a plan laid out.
Which brings us to lunch!
Let's see what we can get done this afternoon?
We'll be back tomorrow with more updates- stay tuned!

Let the Installation Begin!

2011-07-11T17:51:00.000-04:00

This week we've got an exciting project installation here at Robbins Landscaping!

Our clients, 'The D's' recently decided to expand their back deck into an all-inclusive outdoor living area! And we start installation today!

This week and next we'll be keeping you updated with exciting play-by-play posts of the work we're doing.

Let's start with the BEFORE:

This is what the back deck currently looks like:

It's a beautiful back deck, but it's missing some great entertaining space, shade, and an area for grilling.

Enter Robbins Landscaping. Together with The D's, Doug and Tom have come up with a wonderful plan that will give The D's the lifestyle they are looking for right in their own backyard!

Here's how we plan to deliver:
1. Lacking space for entertaining: we'll be adding a nice, large patio to the area to allow for dining/relaxing furniture.
2. Lack of shade: in comes a beautiful pergola for the space that adds shade and compliments the architecture of the home.
3. Area for grilling: We are so excited to be adding an outdoor kitchen to this space! (We really enjoy designing and building outdoor kitchens because each is challenging, unique, and FUN! And, most importantly, our clients that choose to install outdoor kitchens end up loving them. Outdoor kitchens are great additions to outdoor spaces and really can help achieve a more relaxing lifestyle. And you know how we strive to make our clients happy!)

So, with the aims in mind, let's talk pre-installation details.

This is the space in which we will be working:

You can see it is bordered by an island bed of crape myrtles and flowers on the left and the porch on the right.

Here's a head-on view of the space with the island bed:

Here's a good shot of one of the challenges on the project; those green circular structures in the bottom left corner are septic system components. We'll post on how we worked with those!:

And lastly, a few of our preliminary markings! Doug and Tom like to paint a rough sketch of our ideas on the ground for our clients so that it's easy to envision what we will be doing:

Now that you're caught up, 'Let the installation begin!'

We'll be back tomorrow with progress to date! Join us!

Has anyone ever decided that a back deck just wasn't enough space for your outdoor living style? Anyone drooling over the idea of an outdoor kitchen?

Garden Tours!

2011-04-27T13:59:00.000-04:00

Every year, the Garden Club of Virginia hosts the Virginia Garden Week Tour throughout the state of Virginia. In many cities and counties, homeowners open their homes and gardens to the public, offering a unique opportunity for any interested Virginian to experience some of the most beautiful properties in the state.

This year, the four Garden Club of Virginia Richmond chapters worked hard to offer 3 days of tours featuring some stunning Richmond homes!

On Thursday of last week I was able to scoop over to Windsor Farms for a really quick but oh-so-enjoyable tour of the homes open for touring. Despite the time crunch, I saw some absolutely beautiful outdoor spaces that I thought I'd share with you!

Get comfortable because this post is full of photos!

The entrance to the first home I visited was simply delightful! The peppy combination of pink tulips and purple pansies was so festive and very appropriate for the Thursday before Easter.

The side yard of the same home featured this lovely green garden complete with a statue of St. Francis. It was a nice, quite space that successfully bridged the passage between formal front entrance and more casual backyard living space.

The Cheddar Pinks in this bed were in full bloom and just spectacular!

I loved the combination of this very formal boxwood topiary and its more airy, feminine hydrangea neighbor. You just can't beat the deep green and white color pairing, either!

I found this little stone angel perched atop a brick wall overlooking a garden. Very sweet!

Many of the beds around this landscape where lined in Candytuft which was in full bloom this week!

Spirea is one of my absolute favorite spring-bloomers and this home landscape was full of the graceful, arching branches lousy with white blossoms.

This swath of Cheddar Pinks was just on the cusp of blooming! It almost looks like a planting of lavender!

I love this landscape because it so well captures the quintessential 'Richmond Style' of landscaping; dogwoods, mounds of azaleas, and curving beds of ivy amid a lush lawn are crucial elements in the landscapes of the River City.

I thought this wreath was beautiful and understated!

Can't you just imagine eating breakfast in this garden every morning?

This home was absolutely adorable with it's cottage-style architecture. I thought this approach to the back door matched the 'feel' of the home just perfectly!

I just love this white arrangement that I stumbled upon in a seating area beneath a carriage house. Most of the arrangements are done by members of the four Garden Club of Virginia chapters here in Richmond. The members of these clubs are extremely talented!

I really adore this outdoor grilling/dining area- just perfect for al fresco dinners with family and friends!

The backyard landscape of this home is simply breath-taking.
Upon leaving the indoor sun room along the back of the house, you come to the back patio with this view:

I love the sunken garden in the foreground and the raised lawn that softens the background! Such a stunning landscape! Here are some other views around the backyard:

What a perfect little perch among the perennial border!

I love the combination of materials at the stairs- all hardscaping elements featured here work so well together and really unify the whole backyard landscape!

Well, that completes my hour-long ~~tour of~~ sprint through some of this year's most beautiful homes in Richmond! It's opportunities like these that make me remember how lucky I am to live and design in a city that is so rich with culture and design.

Hope you enjoy!

Pst-- Some of our clients' landscapes will be featured on the 2012 Virginia Garden Week Tour! Stay tuned for photos of those properties!

'Springing'

2011-04-20T16:16:00.000-04:00

It's here!
Spring is in full bloom here in Richmond, Virginia and we landscapers are LOVING it!

Photo taken at the Ciliberto home

We appreciate this time of year the most for many reasons:

1. Color combinations and plant pairings really start to look great!

(Photos taken at the Perkins' home)

2. Spring showcases a whole year's worth of hard work and planning when it comes to tending a lawn!

This photo taken at the Lawrence's home

This photo taken at the Thomson home

3. Our clients can spend time outdoors enjoying their beautiful homes

This photo taken at the Ciliberto's home

This photo taken at the Spitzer's home

4. It is MUCH more enjoyable to work on a property in April's 70 degree sunny afternoons than February's biting winter mornings!

This photo taken at the Spitzer's home

5. When we make site visits to our clients' homes, this is what we get to see:

This photo taken at the Pearson's home

This photo taken at the Dicks' home

This photo taken at the Spitzer's home

Here's to a happy Spring!

Do any of you have favorite areas of your landscapes that really pop in the Spring?

Pst: Check out some other great spring photos on our Facebook page:

Wadin'

2011-02-07T17:05:00.000-05:00

We decided to take advantage of today's balmy mid-50's temps and clean out our pond!

Ponds are fabulous design elements that add so much beauty and entertainment to a landscape without adding too much extra work! A healthy pond functions as a miniature ecosystem, all life forms contributing to the upkeep of the whole, and as such, a pond requires little outside 'help.' In fact, a typical pond simply requires a few quick, regular skimming sessions in the fall when leaves are dropping and a winter clean up in order to look its best!

Most pond owners would say that the relaxation and enjoyment they get from their pond far outweighs the minimal upkeep tasks!

Why Clean Your Pond?

Debris from leaf drop, plant material, and even animal bi-products can build up in a pond over the course of a year and become a great breeding ground for bacteria and algae. (Check out the muck on those waterfall rocks!) While this build up is not such a bad thing for the health of the pond, it does detract from the appearance of the water and rock materials. Cleaning your pond can help to improve the aesthetics of your investment!

It is best to wait to clean your pond until most of the season's spent plant material has dropped, but you do want it to be clean before plants begin their spring growth flush. Therefore, February is a great time of year to give your pond a thorough cleaning! (Unless, of course, February is like last year and remains snowy and icy for the majority of its 28 days!)

So, with the weather on our side, we donned our waders, jumped in (literally!) and started scrubbing!

The first step to cleaning a pond is to empty the old water. We used an electric pump with a pretty sizable hose get the water out of the pond and into the surrounding landscape.

Next is the 'scrubbing.' Once the pond was empty, we used a power washer to blast tough scummy growth off the rocks and boulders that make up the pond's structure.

We also removed the filter and cleared out all of the debris that had built up inside...

While the pond was empty, we decided it was a great time to re-pot our aquatic plants! Tom stopped by The Great Big Greenhouse and snagged some great fabric sacks in which to plant; apparently the sacks are better suited for aquatic plant vigor as they allow for more flexible root growth. He also stopped by Boulevard Flowers down the street and picked up some pebbly material to spread on the top inch or so of the potted sacks to prevent the potting soil around the roots of the plants from being pulled into the pond by nibbling fish and creating a mess. Rigo and Juan got to work nestling the plant roots in their new habitat.

With these tasks finished, the hard part was done! We grabbed the hose and a bottle of de-chlorinating solution and set to work filling the pond with fish-friendly water so as not to disturb our only 2 scaly chums that survived the blue herons and the neighbor's cat this summer!

Once the water has a day or two to settle, our pond will be prepped and ready to be looking its best as winter melts into a beautiful spring!

We can't wait until the pond looks like this again!

Pete Rose Shopping Spree!

2011-01-27T08:42:00.000-05:00

With a particularly exciting upcoming project in mind, Tom and I set off to one of our most respected stone vendors, Pete Rose, to visit our buddy, Ben and get inspired!

A little background on the project at hand:

One of our long-time clients has a beautiful home nestled at the edge of a fairly mature, yet shallow forest. She and her husband love to spend time enjoying their landscape (even if their busy schedule only permits a few minutes here and there!) Their home is a haven to all sorts of wildlife including a multitude of bird species, deer (perhaps the deer are more annoying than enjoyable...) rabbits, and their own dogs, Sadie and Shadow.

The landscape is a shady one that slopes from the front yard to a dry creek bed at the forest edge in the backyard. We recently installed a pond-less waterfall just off the covered patio in the backyard to add a relaxing element to outdoor family gatherings. Here's a process photo of the waterfall installation:

Now that the waterfall is complete (just waiting for the plants to grow in!) we are turning our attention to the creation of a woodland path to provide a lush, soothing transition from the front of the home to the waterfall in the backyard. Oh la la!

So that leads us to yesterday's trip to Pete Rose:

We started our 'inspiration visit' by following Ben to the stone yard. Let me just say that despite the utilitarian feel, a stone yard can be one of the best places to start brainstorming some of your most beautiful projects! Who knew rock could be so breath-taking!

That's Tom on the left (in the Robbins gear) and Ben from Pete Rose on the right.

After admiring quite a few options for large, flat stone slabs, we came across these beauties:

(I'm sitting on the stone to remind us of the scale of the pieces when we're back at the drawing board fleshing out the design in a few weeks.)

I was really drawn to this stone for its color variation and textured edges; I think that this stone would be an excellent option to compliment the stone of the waterfall which is, after all, the destination of the path! Tom liked the stone for its shape and weight; he is confident that it will be a great candidate for the construction we have in mind!

After deciding on these path pieces, we struck out in search of some boulder pieces to help create a retaining area...

Too short...

Too narrow...

Juuuust Right!

We really liked this boulder for it's ability to serve as a retaining structure but also a fairly comfortable seat for a quick respite along the woodland path. I can just see our client sitting to sip her coffee and admire the birds for a few minutes on a Saturday morning!

Now that we've seen the material, it's back to the drawing board to plan some details! We'll keep you posted!

Has anyone else ever experienced an inspiring trip to a stone yard? What was the source of your inspiration?

Frosty Fountains

2011-01-18T15:14:00.004-05:00

Many of our clients' landscapes showcase a water feature or two (mostly designed and installed by us) and many of our water-loving friends wonder what will happen to their lush, summertime fountains/waterfalls/ponds when winter comes?

(Photo courtesy of David Beam)

Our answer: all sorts of enjoyment!

Even the smallest of water features typically move enough water to prevent a complete freezing of the water here in balmy Richmond.

And last year's snowy February couldn't stop our pond's waterfall from flowing!

So when old man winter comes to Virginia, he brings with him the opportunity to enjoy some really beautiful ice effects without damaging the water features:

No ice-skating here!

So for those of you who are so lucky as to host one of those bubbliny beauts, spend the next few weeks enjoying the view of your winter waterscape!

Meeting 2011 With Our Sleeves Rolled Up!

2011-01-04T10:28:00.001-05:00

Despite some of the challenges we (along with most other small businesses) faced in 2010, we are determined that in 2011 we will improve our business systems, further educate our team members, serve our clients better than ever, and grow our company!

For starters, we thought the best way to welcome 2011 was to GET ORGANIZED!

Jake, Luke, Chris, Kathryn and I spent the better part of a day last week cleaning and organizing our Production System. (Look at the dust on that table! Kathryn and I were sure to dust, sweep, Windex, repeat, many, MANY times while the guys hung countless boards on the walls and partitions.)

Though the project is not quite finished, the progress we have made has already helped us to streamline our Production efforts, and that feels great!

Bear in mind the Production System headquarters is located in our warehouse, so the space is much more functional than it is aesthetic. (The landscapes we design and install are much more beautiful than this warehouse corner!) The space does, however, accommodate the needs of the System better than ever before!

The new arrangement also allows for an official training corner where we can educate our team members on the many aspects of the Landscape Contracting Industry. How convenient!

There are many more exciting projects to cross off our To-Do List, and I'll post the progress as we tackle them!

Happy New Year!

New Year, New Landscape!

2010-12-29T14:07:00.000-05:00

After spending some much appreciated time with family and friends this Christmas season, I've decided it's time to start evaluating my 2010 accomplishments, giving thanks for what I was blessed with this past year, and turning my focus to 2011.

Among other things, 2010 has given me the opportunity to spend time getting to know some of our clients. I have really enjoyed listening to some pretty creative ideas and helping to make these inspirations a reality. Here are just a few of the ideas I was able to help develop this year:

What a year for beautiful design!

In the coming year I am resolving myself to be a better blogger! I thoroughly enjoy the time I can spend exploring the inspirations of others through their own blogs, and I'm determined to provide you with the same exciting, inspiring blogging dedication right here on this site!

Here's to a very happy and prosperous 2011!

Cheers!

Got Mulch?

2010-12-08T10:12:00.003-05:00

As this week's weather has made abundantly clear, WINTER HAS COME!

What does that mean for your landscape? It's time to mulch!

Winter is the time of year during which mulch can serve both an aesthetic and a functional purpose in your landscape. When trees have lost their leaves and flowers have died back, mulch can really make your slightly-less-exciting winter landscape look fresh and tidy.

More importantly, though, mulch serves a few important purposes in your landscape during the winter and early spring months.

Insulation: Laying a fresh dressing of mulch around your plants in early winter can help to protect their roots from winter cold and increase the chance of winter survival.

Erosion control: Winter weather often leaves areas covered in herbaceous plant material barren for a few months. This exposure of bare topsoil to winter's often windy and wet conditions increases the probability of erosion. Laying mulch in these areas can help mitigate the loss of topsoil.

Weed suppression: An annually applied layer of mulch can help to prevent the germination of weed seeds as temperatures rise in the early spring. Who doesn't welcome help with weed control?

Protect your plants and spruce up your 'scape; Spread some mulch!

the IVY league

2010-11-04T14:21:00.007-04:00

A little eye candy for those of you who just love mossy, woodland gardens!

These fantastic stone steps are softened with moss and ivy to create a lush, calming pathway through a naturalistic garden. Lovely!

This striking combination of large-leaf hosta and variegated curly ivy creates real textural interest in a shady bed adjacent to the stone path.

How do you do that?

2010-10-26T14:15:00.004-04:00

On September 15, Doug and Chris got to spend the day brainstorming about business and operations strategies...they came back with loads of great ideas!

The host of this fantastic event was Greenscapes, a design, build, and management company located in Raleigh, NC. (http://www.greenscapeinc.com/)Doug and Chris, along with many other Green Industry professionals, were able to visit the Greenscapes facility and learn about their production. In addition to witnessing the day-to-day operations of Greenscapes, participants were able to brainstorm together about tough industry challenges.

Many thanks to Greenscapes for promoting industry teamwork!

Backyard Entertaining Ideas

2010-08-02T10:40:00.012-04:00

In light of this weekend's oh-so-anticipated cooler weather, we thought we'd offer some exciting ideas for some backyard entertaining with your outdoor kitchen. Enjoy!

Summer Party ideas for your

outdoor kitchen:

Harvest Party: Ask friends to bring some of the summer's bounty from their vegetable gardens (or stop by a local farmer's market!) and host a veggie grilling dinner party. Healthy and delicious!

Grill-Off: Gather family and friends and host a grilling competition to determine who has the best grill skills! Ask everyone to bring their favorite recipe and enjoy taste-testing!

Herb Cocktail Party: That pretty rosemary shrub can do more than flavor chicken dishes; search online for some tasty cocktail recipes that include herbs and have a few friends over for some Lavender Lemonade!

Summer Grilling Celebration!

2010-06-24T12:47:00.008-04:00

Robbins Landscaping, Inc. hosted Mike Lampros of Gunther’s Gourmet
for our 2010 Grillin’ in the Garden Party!

Last Saturday we invited our clients, family, and friends from the community, to celebrate the start of summer at our 2010 open house, ‘Grillin’ in the Garden!’ While our guests enjoyed the Show Gardens, pond, and patios at our facility, Chef Mike Lampros of Gunther’s Gourmet (a longtime friend of Doug's wife, Leigh) provided grilling tips and samples of his tasty summer hors d’oeuvres! Despite the heat, our guests had a wonderful time meeting some of our other clients, tasting Chef Mike’s food, and even trying their hand at some lawn games! (Jesus, Carlos, and Tom won the mini 'corn hole' tournament! )

In addition to good food and grilling tips from Chef Mike, some great summer recipes to try at home, and a few tips for fun backyard adventures, we offered door prizes to six lucky guests! The following outdoor enthusiasts scored some great summer grilling treats to start their next outdoor event right! Robert Bryant, Mark Kirby, and Linda Auxier all received gift sets of Gunther’s Gourmet specialty salsas which can be used as marinades, dips, or even to spice up a drink. Karen Johnson and Bob and Carol Bailey won $75 gourmet meat packages from Chicago Stockyards for their next grilling adventure, and Bill Lyman won the grand prize of a $150 gourmet package from Chicago Stockyards. Happy grilling!

The Robbins Team looks forward to seeing you at the next Robbins Landscaping, Inc. Open House!

'Thank you!' to Our Military Families

2010-06-01T12:34:00.005-04:00

Robbins Landscaping Team helps the Autry family!

Robbins Landscaping, Inc. greatly appreciates the service and sacrifice of our men and women in uniform and their families. We recognize the depth of their contributions to our country and thus hope to offer support to individual military families with our time and expertise.

Each year Robbins Landscaping, Inc. (like many other landscaping companies across the country) works with GreenCare for Troops http://www.projectevergreen.com/gcft/ to find a local family with at least one spouse actively serving abroad. Robbins then offers that family lawn maintenance services until the serving spouse returns home in an effort to ease the burden of the spouse that is maintaining the family's home.

This year, in addition to providing routine maintenance for an actively serving family, Robbins Landscaping teamed with GreenCare for Troops to find a new family for whom we could provide a Spring clean up and some mulching and shrub care. With the help of GCFT, we found the Autry family!

Mr. Autry is currently serving as a Captain in the U.S. Army and is stationed abroad until Thanksgiving. He has been deployed before and will have been gone for nearly a year when he returns in November 2010. Mrs. Autry is at home with their three young sons. In addition to raising their family, Mrs. Autry volunteers a great deal of her time with the Family Readiness Program on base as a group leader; she organizes meetings, parties, and events to help other military families to prepare for and manage a spouse's active service.

Robbins Landscaping, Inc. wants to recognize the Autry family as a wonderful example of a selfless family who sacrifices much for our country. Many, many thanks to the Autrys!

Operation: Website Reconstruction!

2010-01-13T12:31:00.000-05:00

After many years of dedicated service, our current website is announcing its retirement...

Though a bit bittersweet, this decision is mutually beneficial; as much as we love our folksie little site, complete with a very old photo of Doug working shirtless, we are in need of a more cutting-edge, more savvy site to better represent who we are as Robbins Landscaping, Inc.

To help us create such a site, we've joined forces with Market Hardware, a Maryland-based company that specializes in website construction. Over the next 8-10 weeks we will be working closely with Lisa, our Project Manager, to craft a site both representative of our company culture and beneficial and exciting to our clients and prospects.

Keep tabs on this project! The transformation is going to be nothing short of spectacular, and we look forward to sharing our progress with you.

Check out our old site now: www.robbinscaping.com
In a few short weeks this relic will be a mere memory!

Introduce Yourself!

2009-12-04T11:34:00.005-05:00

What's the value of a home landscape?

Many green industry and real estate articles will suggest that the value of a home landscape lies in the continual ROI (return on investment) that an aesthetically pleasing landscape affords you in terms of property value. It's true! Many studies conclude that an investment in home landscaping yields favorable returns, and that's reason enough to spend your money in your yard. But is ROI the only way to measure the value of a landscape?

We submit that it is not! While a beautiful, well-maintained home landscape is a strategic investment, it is also so much more than that. We believe that your home landscape is truly a reflection of you: your values, your tastes, your lifestyle.

The way you establish and decorate your home allows your guests to enjoy an insight into who you are. Your furniture, artwork, paint choices, knick-knacks and family photos are an extension of what makes your style exceptional. This unique reflection of you should not, however, be confined to the interior of your home! The design of the exterior of your home also makes a statement and is the first and often only impression that many people will have of you. Countless people pass by your home regularly; do they notice your landscape? Is it unique? Does your landscape simply blend into the space surrounding it? If so, is that who you are? We don't think so.

As someone drives past your house, don't you want them to notice what is yours? Wouldn't you love them to pause and think 'Wow! That yard looks great! What a beautiful design- I wonder what kind of person lives there?' Your home should reflect who you are and provide visual interest to those who are so lucky as to view it. Much as the frame of a picture perfectly displays a masterpiece, your home landscape should uniquely accentuate your beautiful house and serve as an extension of your personality.

With that in mind, spend some time thinking about what you want people to know about you. Brainstorm what makes you 'you' and translate those qualities into a beautiful home landscaping that really reflects your personality (Call a professional if you need some help!) Your landscape, however small, should be something you take pride in- something that captures the essence of YOU. Go ahead, introduce yourself to the world!

Fall Landscaping Tasks

2009-11-25T15:39:00.001-05:00

As fall begins to transition to winter, it is important that landscapes are adequately prepared for the coming season. Winter can take a harsh toll on plants and soils not adequately prepared for the climate extremes present during the season, and prevention of winter damage begins with a proper fall cleaning of the landscape. The following suggestions provide a brief overview of the annual tasks that fall requires of homeowners.

1. Leaf removal is an essential undertaking for any owner of a recently aerated and seeded lawn. As leaves fall onto the grass, they prevent newly germinated grass seed from receiving adequate sunlight. Shading will cause new grass to die if leaves are not removed in a timely fashion.

2. Irrigation systems in Virginia should be winterized in the fall as winter ground temperatures often reach below the freezing point. The winterization of an irrigation system includes the removal of water from the pipes and other components so that water cannot freeze in the system and damage any mechanisms. This service should be performed in mid- to late- fall so as to avoid early winter damage.

3. Pruning should be a part of any fall landscaping agenda. The benefits of a pruning program include training of a tree or shrub’s form, improvement of flowering and fruiting, restriction of growth, and maintenance of plant health. Training a tree can prevent storm damage and diseases that occur in weak branch angles. Pruning out old wood can influence plants to flower more profusely due to the availability of excess energy. Eliminating excess plant material can help to maintain a controlled plant size. Additionally, removing diseased plant material can prevent the spread of the pathogen throughout the tree.

Though it is possible to prune your plants year- round, late autumn through winter is a good time to prune trees and shrubs as the new growth of spring and summer has had ample time to acclimatize. Additionally, the food storage that was used in the growth of spring and summer shoots has been replenished through carbohydrate storing.

4. In addition to pruning trees and shrubs, it is important to mulch their roots. Mulch is a natural insulator, keeping soil warm in the winter and cool in the summer. Warmer soil temperatures allow for increased root growth, which helps the plant to be better prepared for spring and summer growth. Mulch also decreases the amount of soil moisture that is lost to evaporation, providing trees, shrubs, and flowers with more moisture than bare soil. Additionally, mulch minimizes weed competition for a plant; it is more difficult for weed seeds to germinate when covered by mulch. Reducing weed competition improves the water source for the desired plant. As organic mulch decomposes, it provides the underlying soil with nutrients and improves the aggregation of the soil’s structure. Improved aggregation allows for more efficient air and water movement throughout the soil, which in turn improves the efficiency of the plants’ biotic processes.

The ideal mulch application consists of an even coverage of 2 to 4 inches of mulch over the soil surface. Less than 2 inches of mulch can make the application ineffective while more than 4 inches of mulch around the trunks of trees and shrubs can actually cause damage by making the plant more susceptible to cankering and disease.

5. Fall is also an excellent time to plant trees and shrubs. Though the air is cooler, the soil retains the heat from summer’s sunshine. Cool air temperature prevents vegetative growth on the above-ground portions of the plant while warm soil temperature allows for the establishment of the plant’s root system. This allows the plant to prepare its root system to support the impending growth flush of spring and summer, which improves the plant’s ability to withstand drought and heat.

6. In addition to trees and shrubs, fall annuals can add interest to a winter landscape; without the leaves of deciduous species, winter landscapes tend to look barren and dull. Pansies can perk up a landscape by adding pockets of color in beds and under trees.

As November winds to a close, homeowners should plan to tend to their landscapes before the onset of winter. Preparing a landscape for cold weather can be a sizeable task; whether hiring a professional to help or performing the work personally, every homeowner should begin delineating a plan of action. A properly maintained winter landscape yields faster and more satisfying results as soon as the weather warms in the spring.

For all you Richmond homeowners in need of some fall clean up assistance, call Robbins Landscaping, Inc. at (804)748-3978!
Robbins Landscaping, Inc.