Landscaping Archives - Page 10 of 13 - Proper Landscaping Inc.

Mar 18

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How to have fun with landscape edits

By Vas Sladek | Landscaping, Species | No Comments

Editing existing landscapes can be lots of fun. Landscape maintenance can become routine so it’s always fun to install new plants in spring and fall when temperatures are favorable for proper plant establishment.

Landscapes are not meant to be static; plants grow and mature, home owners change, some plants die or wear out their welcome. Sometimes extreme weather events force changes. In the example below the Rhodos wore out their welcome, the strata president did not care for Hydrangeas and there was a push for site look consistency: low evergreens with Azaleas in behind them.

The bed below required major editing.

Before

Task list:

remove large Rhodos and Hydrangeas
reposition large Taxus to the back of the bed
move two ferns (Polystichum munitum) to the back
divide Hostas and replant closer to both entrances
install new plants as specified by strata

After

New plant species

Front line: Pinus mugo ‘Mughus’

Middle: Azalea japonica ‘Girard’s crimson’

Back line: Rhodo ‘Anna Rose Whitney’

One final step not shown here is bed top-dressing with quality weed-free soil for an instant sharp, dark look. The new plants also appreciate the new soil addition. This should be a standard last step for all plant installations.

Notes for beginner plant installers:

Always use the existing soil to backfill your planting holes. Using new soil sounds attractive but water will migrate into your planting holes and your plants will become joysticks. Avoid this headache by backfilling with existing soil.
Don’t be afraid to rough up the plant roots so they can stop circling and grow out.
Gently water your new plants in.

Your home or business should be an inspiring place to live or work in. Edit your landscape as required. Get professional help if you have to. Look for Landscape Industry Certified landscapers who are committed to their trade.

Mar 14

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Tree lessons from a mall parking lot

By Vas Sladek | Arborist Insights, Landscaping | No Comments

Visiting your local shopping mall can be a fun green experience. This past weekend I dropped off my son at a gym for a friend’s birthday party and headed to a nearby mall Starbucks. While my wife enjoyed her first latte macchiato, I was more interested in the parking lot trees.

First, the good news.

The newly planted Sorbus aucuparia ‘Rossica’ (Russian mountain ash) is a beautiful specimen tree suited for cooler climates. It has ash-like leaves but actually belongs to the rose family. It’s a pyramidal tree with lobed leaves that turn orangey-red in the fall. In mid-spring white flower clusters emerge; and in winter we get clusters of red berries. The berries attract birds and they always remind me of mountain ashes.

Sorbus berries

Sorbus aucuparia ‘Rossica’

Sorbus aucuparia has year-round appeal and likes full sun which it will get in the middle of a mall parking lot, plus plenty of reflective heat as the pavement heats up.

Now, for the bad news.

Take a closer look at the tree install. The fresh mulch is great for the tree because it keeps moisture in (soil water retention) but why the classic mulch volcano? Dr. Linda Chalker-Scott writes that piling mulch too high creates a dark, wet, low oxygen environment to which above-ground tissues are not adapted. Fungi love these conditions and are likely to infect the tree; pests can also use the moist conditions to enter the tree bark.

horrific mulch volcano

Do not create mulch volcanoes. Instead taper the mulch to almost nothing as you get close to the trunk. This creates a donut shape which protects the soil environment and above-ground tissues. Remember: donut shape!

Still thinking about mulch volcanoes, I picked up my son at the gym where young cheerleaders ran around in VAS t-shirts. My kind of gym! Vancouver All Stars.

Feb 19

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Soil Compaction: Don’t Forget this Silent Killer

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Landscaping, Lawn Care, Mulch | 2 Comments

Study the dead tree pictured below. What’s wrong here?

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A heavy ride-on Deere mower has gone over the area very efficiently, riding right over the root zone. That means less line trimming. Perfect for the municipal workers maintaining this park. The operator does this every ten days or so. But wait. What about the tree itself? The tire tracks point to a deadly condition: soil compaction! (The pictured tree is dead. Was it soil compaction that killed it? Or bored ball players from nearby baseball diamonds? Campers building illegal fires with poached tree branches? Line trimmer damage?)

The 4th edition of Arboriculture defines compaction as the breakdown of soil aggregates. Compaction decreases total pore space in the soil. When large pore spaces are compressed, the resistance to root penetration increases.

The results of compaction?

Slow water infiltration
Poor aeration
Reduced drainage
Impaired root growth and activity
Increased erosion
Mycorrhizal activity declines

Basically, with compaction the tree struggles to obtain water and oxygen, roots can not grow as easily and since water can’t penetrate it runs off, causing erosion on the surface.

The top 4 inches of soil are usually the most affected; the greatest compaction occurs about 0.75 inches below surface.

At the September 2015 Can-West Horticulture Show in Abbotsford, Dr. Kim Coder relayed to us a story about a group of green activists who campaigned to save an ancient tree. They assembled at the base and did what they had to do, never noticing the serious compaction they were responsible for over the root zone. If I recall the story correctly, the tree declined and eventually died.

Think about soil compaction and avoid it! It’s hard work rehabilitating compacted soils. For best results create a nice tree well and mulch it with arbor chips. Many tree companies are happy to donate their wood chips. Problem solved.

Feb 12

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Tree Born to be a Landscape Specimen

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Landscaping, Plant Species Information, Species | No Comments

While blowing a strata site on a recent sunny December afternoon, I almost tripped on a huge cone. Intrigued, I smuggled it home past my wife in a lunch bag.

Using my trusted Sibley guide to trees by David Allen Sibley and Google, I found out it was a female Cedrus deodara cone. Deodar cedar is a Himalayas native. According to the Arbor Day Foundation website, www.arborday.org, this tree was born to be a landscape specimen. It has elegant pendulous branches, attractive coloring, pleasing shape and interesting branching patterns.

Tree guru Michael Dirr calls the deodar cedar “the most graceful cedar”. It tolerates drought but it’s not really suited for cold zones. The needles are bluish-green or silvery with sharp tips usually borne in clusters, smaller toward twig tips. The needles are shed in spring as new growth appears.

The cones are upright like in firs (Abies) but stouter and they disintegrate over winter, leaving an upright central spike.

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Needles in clusters

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Female cone, upright

Feb 06

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Red Seal Vas on periodicals

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Landscape Industry, Landscaping, Magazines, Resources | No Comments

As the 2016 season approaches, I try to finish my dusty magazines from last year. Below are the key periodicals I read. Because my budget is limited, I subscribe to some and buy interesting issues from the others. What do YOU read?

Horticulture Magazine (USA)

It has nice detailed plant and how to articles. I get the digital version because shipping for paper copies to Canada is too high. Lee Valley sells paper copies in the store

HC1SI

Arborist News (International)

This comes bi-monthly and is included with your ISA membership. It’s the main magazine for arborists. Includes quizzes, scientific tree articles and book reviews.
Warning: ISA also publishes a book catalogue full of great but pricey books. I never seem to have the budget for everything on my wish list.

Gardenwise, Canadian Gardening and Garden Making (Canada)

Good coverage of Canada. The best part of Gardenwise is the chores page that outlines what to do in your garden for a particular month. Garden Making is the newest and prettiest of the three. It has nice how to articles and lots of plants.

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Fine Gardening (USA)

Great photos but this magazines can seriously add to your food bill as you throw it into your food cart. Covers all of USA so my interest is in the Pacific Northwest. I enjoy the how to articles on pruning. Plenty of botanical names.

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Landscape Management (USA)

A magazine for landscape company owners and managers. The most interesting issue is the one with top annual revenues. The numbers will blow you away.
You can get it for free if you own a landscape company in Canada. You can also check out the online version at www.landscapemanagement.net.

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Success magazine (USA)

Every issue comes with bonus audio CD. I listen to it on the way to my sites. Articles cover important topics related to business and personal success. I am also a fan of publisher Darren Hardy. His book “Entrepreneur Rollercoaster” is a must read. Darren also has a daily blog you can subscribe to. Available at local stores.

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What do YOU read?

Feb 05

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On Effective Supervision

By Vas | Landscaping | No Comments

Vas on effective supervision

One day in the field this past summer, I was forced to attend to another task ( backpack blow) which meant that my under-performing, trained worker had to be on his own. Fortunately, his bedwork was in a defined circular bed, he had clear time parameters, his progress was measurable in green waste generation and quality (weed-free bed), and, big bonus, cell reception was extremely poor (his lonely out of town girlfriend had to wait). Then it hit me and a blog was born. This was a perfect effective supervision case study.

For best results in landscape maintenance, the crew foreman should always attempt to keep his workers together. Tasks and tools can change hands but the crew sticks together. Splitting up can result in loss of control for the foreman in charge. We need results.

But what if you can’t be there? The boss shows up or strata president comes in with a pressing landscape emergency. Now what? Keep the following five points in mind.

The workers must be trained to perform the assigned tasks. This is critical. We can’t leave them if they can’t do the work
The work should be in a defined location, for example units 1-10, front entrance, or a circular bed. This keeps it simple for the workers and for the foreman. Spell out your expectations.
The workers should be given clear time parameters. In this case we had roughly 90 minutes which was generous for one circular bed planted with native species.
Work progress should be measurable, in the volume of green waste generated or in the number of strata units completed
Check all work when you return and give constructive feedback. Stick together as you continue with your maintenance work. Feedback is also critical.

Now go deliver Proper results for your clients!

Jan 01

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Proper Deep-Edging 101

By Vas | Edging, Landscaping, Mulch | No Comments

Deep-edging beds and tree wells is a great winter task. It defines our bed edges nicely. While it is not a very difficult task, there are a few pointers to keep in mind. Always put in sharp ninety degree edges and if your bed has freshly installed soil or mulch do not mess it up with soil chunks. First, rake your mulch or soil away from the edge! See example below.

1) Only 90 degrees will do. Position your spade so you get a nice ninety degree edge.

2) Put your foot behind the spade to prevent bed edge rounding

3) Continue with sharp edging, then beat up any clumps and rake up

4) All done! Do not make volcanoes, instead remove any excess soil

Important! To deep-edge beds with fresh mulch or soil DO NOT kick up fresh soil chunks over the new soil or mulch.

1) Rake away fresh soil from the edge

2) Deep edge and cleanup

3) Pull back the soil to your new edge; use the same Proper procedure for mulched beds

Dec 25

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World Record Weed Pull!

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Education, Events, Landscaping, Plant Species Information | No Comments

As soon as I found about this project, I knew I had to be there. World record attempt for the most people involved in invasive plant removal sounded interesting. This was a good chance to give back to the community and improve my green resume. I used to run at Mundy Park in Coquitlam with the Phoenix Running Club so why not remove some invasive plants and make it better.

On October 4, 2015, my group went through orientation with City of Coquitlam staff and then we picked up paper bags for green waste and gloves for safety. Water was also provided. I opted to join the group heading deeper into the woods. I love trees and hiking; and collisions with dog waste are less likely deep in the woods.
After a short hike we reached our work zone. It was a patch of ivy (Hedera helix). At your house the plant can be contained in a bed but in the woods it can do as it pleases. I am happy to report that my group attacked the ivy with great passion. All green waste was hauled out to the trail to be taken away by an ATV. Snacks and drinks were provided at the baseball diamond afterwards.

As the Tri-City News reported recently (Friday December 18, 2015, A34) the record was officially set for the most people involved in an invasive plant removal.
Over 800 people participated. If you are interested in becoming a Mundy Park Champion or a Park Spark volunteer visit www.coquitlam.ca/parkspark, email parkspark@coquitlam.ca or call 604-927-6334

bad-seed

Learn about these Bad Seeds

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Orientation with City of Coquitlam staff

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Work zone: Hedera helix Ivy about to be removed

Vas in his element

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Green waste

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Dec 18

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Quick Trimmer Head Change

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Company News, Education, Landscaping, Strata Maintenance | No Comments

This week I found myself on a narrow median up in the Westwood Plateau buzzing down crack weeds when my trimmer head died of old age. No problem.
With tools in the truck and a spare head, this was a quick job.

1) use a screw driver or Allen key and look for two openings, one on the edger and one on the head

2) spin the head until the holes align to immobilize the head

3) unscrew the old head

4) screw on the new one, tight but not super tight!

My new head was already full of string so I was back in action very quickly.
Put your safety equipment back on and line edge carefully.

Dead trimmer head, save the line and discard

Allen key immobilizes the head

Dec 11

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Side-Job Hell….

By Vas | Arborist Insights, Company News, Education, Landscaping | No Comments

Two young landscapers arrive at a residence and make decent cash by pruning cedar hedges. We have all been there. Living the dream, making extra cash on weekends. Then the owner asks them to prune her Acer palmatum away from the house and below the gutters. Then mistakes happen. First examine pictures of the FINAL product and then consider the many mistakes that were made.

Owner’s request: bring the tree crown below gutters

Brutal chainsaw cuts

Huge stubs that will die off, potentially invite disease in and give the tree zero chance of healing the wound

Let us consider the mistakes that were made.

1) Agreeing to top a tree

The crown could be reduced but topping is not done for several reasons. Educate your clients!

2) Starving and stressing the tree

In drought conditions, leaf openings (stomates) are closed to prevent water loss. That also means that CO2 can not enter and therefore food production stops. Now the tree is forced to use up food reserves stored in younger branches. The same branches that are likely to be pruned off.

3) Bad cuts

The chainsaw work is inadequate and the stubs amateurish. We have seen in an earlier blog how to make a nice cut, one the tree can cover over and heal.
The stubs die off, can invite disease in, and the tree has no hope of covering the wound.

4) Failure to wear protective gear

Chainsaw work can be dangerous so protection is mandatory; the same goes for high-visibility clothing since the workers repeatedly crossed the road to assess their work. Work which did not get completed.

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