Category: Landscaping

Winterizing Your Garden

Posted on by levylawns

With all the leaves blown off the tree in winter, your garden can look sparse, boring and depressing, making your home outright bland. However, winter should not automatically mean a dull, uninteresting yard. You can brighten the overcast winter weather with colorful flowers.

Interestingly, some of these flowers have pleasant scents that provide a warm, soothing ambiance. You can plant your winter plants around your walkways and entryways giving a bright finishing touch to your home. Below, we’ve compiled a list of some of the best winter plants for Seattle residents.

  1. Sarcococca confusa

If you are a fan of strong pleasant smells, you should consider planting the Sarcococca confusa. With its deep green, glossy foliage, Sarcococca confusa gives off a strong vanilla scent, and this makes it the perfect plant around your doorway.

  1. Hamamelis Mollis

Also known as the Witch Hazel, Hamamelis is a vase-shaped plant with an abundance of rich golden or red-toned flowers. In addition to its beauty and colors, the Hamamelis has a rich, spicy fragrance. Interestingly, the Witch Hazel flower blooms last throughout the winter season after the first bloom in the fall.

  1. Coral Bark Japanese Maple

This plant is another year-round wonder. The beautiful bark of this mid-sized maple can be spotted from a mile. Once the leaves fall, you will be glad you chose a tree that looks like more than a bunch of sticks.

  1. Paper Bush

Looking for a burst of bright colors? The Paper Bush (Edgeworthia chrysantha) is your go-to plant choice. With clusters of yellow or orange flowers resembling miniature showerheads dangling from the naked limbs of the Paper Bush, it can live through the toughest winter months.

  1. Winter Daphne

One of our favorite foundation plants, it looks good all four seasons. However, late winter is when it earns its spot in our landscape designs. Fragrant blooms cover they appear in February (or even earlier), letting you know that spring is coming.

Creating a Winter Wonderland in your Yard or Garden

Posted on by levylawns

How are you decorating your yard this festive period? Show your yard the same decor-love as your home by creating a Winter wonderland in your yard or garden. It’s not that difficult. Here’s how.

 

Winter Garden Wonderland Color

Colors put the “Wonder” in Wonderland. Even though it’s winter, your Wonderland can be made colorful with flowers. Flowers like the Winter Camelia, Pansies, and Helleberos can withstand the cold temperature and add a burst of color against the stark white snowy background.

 

Also, attracting birds like the Robin redbreast can add color to your winter wonderland, as well as melody. You may also build a fire pit to illuminate your yard and provide heat, so you can comfortably spend time in your winter wonderland yard.

 

Winter Garden Wonderland Scent

Bring the smell of the festivity beyond the insides of your house to your yard with sweet-scenting plants. A perfect choice is Sarcococca, an evergreen shrub known as the sweet box, which produces a fragrant honey scent during the winter.

 

Other plants to grow in your wonderland winter yard are witch Hazel and winter honeysuckle. Witch Hazel yellow flowers emit a lovely licorice scent. Winter honeysuckle also produces a lemony fresh scent.

 

Winter Garden Wonderland Decor

Decorating your winter wonderland will bring the magic of the festive season to life in your yard. Create a stunning visual with fairy lights, and lanterns hung on fir trees and draped on your decks and sheds.

 

You can also tie festive ribbons on trees and hang wreathed around your yard. Other decor ideas to help create an attractive Christmas or festive theme include building a snowman or Santa clause and setting up a Christmas tree.

 

With these tips, you can create a Winter wonderland to bring the magic of the season to your yard.   If you need help creating your Winter wonderland yard, reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping.

 

The Best Apple Trees in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on by levylawns

Washington State is famous for its numerous varieties of apples. So much that when you go grocery shopping in Seattle, you’ll find between five to ten types. But, what are the best apples to grow in the Seattle Area? Keep reading to find out.

5 Apple Trees to Grow In Your Seattle Garden

Several apple trees grow well in the Seattle area. However, here are the top 5 apples you should consider growing in your Seattle garden.

1.     Braeburn Apples

Braeburn apple trees are easy to grow and require little maintenance. The apples have a mildly tart flavor with a spicy sweetness. They are best for baking but also great for snacking and making sauce.

2.    Red Delicious Apples

Red delicious apples are one of the oldest varieties of apples grown in Seattle. They are bright red, and have a signature sweet taste and thicker skin than most other varieties. You can snack on them or use them to prepare salads.

3.     Fuji Apples

Fuji apples are a cross of Red Delicious and Ralls Janet apples. They were originally grown in Japan but are now grown in the Seattle area. They have a variety of uses, including snacking, baking pies and making salads and sauces.

4.    Gala Apples

The kids’ favorites, Gala apples have thin skins and light flavors. Originally grown in New Zealand, the apple tree also serves ornamental purposes. They grow fragrant, white-pink flowers that would add beauty to your garden.

5.     Bramleys Apples

Bramleys apple trees grow vigorously and produce lots of apples. You may have to support the tree branches with stakes to prevent breakage due to overload. The apples are big and green with reddish markings.

The best apples to grow in the Seattle area shared in this post can grow in various soil. However, ensure that the soil is well-drained, and plant the tree in the section of your garden that gets direct sunlight. If you need help preparing your garden to grow the best apples in Seattle, you can reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping today!

 

Top 10 Things Landscapers Do in Their Yards Every Fall

Posted on by levylawns

The Fall season is officially here.  Most of the flowers are gone, and the foliage is turning yellow. And, shorter days and longer nights are ahead. But, this doesn’t mean that there’s nothing else to do in your yard. Here are ten things Landscapers do in their yards every Fall that you can steal to prepare your yard for next Spring.

1.    Mow the Lawn

Yes, the Fall weather is cold and wet, and mowing is no fun in such conditions. However, you have to keep your lawn grass from overgrowing to prevent the growth of snow mold.

2.   Clear the Leaves

All summer long, trees and shrub would have shed their leaves in your yard that needs clearing. But, don’t just rake them into a pile, so they don’t kill your grass. Instead, use them to make your mulch for next Spring.

3.   Prune Trees & Shrubs

Snowstorms can cause tree branches and shrubs to break off and cause severe damages. So, ensure that you prune the trees and shrubs in your yard in the Fall.

4.   Aerate the Lawn

With the hot summer weather, the yard soil becomes compacted. Aerating your lawn pokes holes into the soil for easier penetration of air, water and nutrients.

5.    Test the Soil

Testing your yard soil will help determine its health. Is it deficient in a particular nutrient? How about the pH? If there are deficiencies, you can start correcting them before the coming planting season.

6.   Reseed the Lawn

The cool fall temperature supports grass growth. So, perfect timing to sprinkle some grass seeds on your lawn, especially in patchy areas. They would germinate through the fall and winter season, and grow into a lush green lawn.

7.    Plant Bulbs

With the soil still warm from summer and enough rain in this season, the condition is suitable to grow bulbs. Bulbs like daffodils and tulips are cold-resistant and would bloom in the Spring.

8.   Plant Veggies

No, the planting season isn’t over. Vegetables such as carrot, spinach, and broccoli will grow just in time for delicious winter soup when planted in the Fall.

9.   Check Your Driveway

Inspect your driveway ahead of the winter season to find and fix issues that may become bigger problems later in the Winter and Spring season. Pressure wash, fill up cracks and apply sealants to keep the driveway water-proof.

10. Store Yard Furniture

Rain and furniture are a bad combo, not to mention the snow and ice in winter. So, clean your yard furniture and put them in storage. If you don’t have a storage unit, you can cover them with a tarp or polyester furniture cover.

Fall is the perfect time to get ready for a new season. With these ten things landscapers do in their yards every Fall, your yard would be lush, green and blooming. If you need help, you can contact us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping.   

 

Planting a Winter Garden

Posted on by levylawns

Yes, the bitter cold of the Winter season won’t let most plants grow. With the frozen soil and snowstorm, we can say goodbye to our favorite vegetables and flowers. But that doesn’t mean you can’t plant a winter garden, especially in the Pacific Northwest. In this post, you’ll learn more about planting a winter garden.

Grow Fast-Growing Plants

A winter garden doesn’t have to be planted in the winter. You can start now this fall season, by growing plants that will reach maturity in winter. Vegetables like lettuces, parsley, and spinach are cold-tolerant. And, evergreen shrubs like Winter Camellia and Winter Daphne will bloom in the winter and last through early spring.

Grow Cold-Tolerant Plants

Despite the harsh weather conditions, you can plant during the winter season. Just make sure you choose plants that can endure the consistent frost and snow. Colorful plants like Heather, Pansies, and ornamental kale and cabbage are low-maintenance and will withstand the winter season. You can also use a greenhouse or protective cover to protect your plant.

Grow Slow-Growing Plants

Slow-growing plants are great for a winter garden, as they wouldn’t fully bloom in winter. After planting them in the fall, they would go dormant until late winter or early spring. Crocus is a late winter blooming bulb with showy white, yellow or purple flowers that will make your garden colorful. Overwintered vegetables you can also plant include onions, garlic and cauliflower.

In conclusion, planting a winter garden is possible. There are various cold-tolerant vegetables and flowers to plant to add a pop of color to your dull and drab winter garden. If you need help planting your winter garden, you can reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping.

 

Fast-growing Trees To Plant in the Pacific Northwest

Posted on by levylawns

If you’re thinking of growing trees in your Pacific Northwest garden, ensure you plant fast-growing trees. Imagine planting a tree, and 4 years later, it isn’t mature enough to flower. So, it can’t beautify your yard, let alone provide shade from the sun or serve as a windbreak. How much longer would you have to wait? You can avoid waiting for years, and find out the fast-growing trees to plant in the Pacific Northwest in this post.

3 Fast-growing Trees To Plant in your Pacific Northwest Garden

From Alaska to Oregon, there are several fast-growing trees to plant in the Pacific Northwest. But, we’ve outlined our best three fast-growing trees below.

1.     Pacific Silver Fir

This type of fir tree stands out among firs. It isn’t popularly known as the “lovely fir” for nothing. The underside of its leaves and the tree bark are a silver color, hence its name. It can grow as tall as 50 to 80 feet. The Pacific Silver Fir is the perfect fast-growing tree for your yard if you reside along the coast between Northern California and Southern Alaska, as it loves wet and shaded areas.

2.    Weeping Beech

No, this tree doesn’t drip water or any fluid. It’s called a “Weeping” Beech because it branches hang downward, giving its foliage a graceful weeping form. It has vibrant purple foliage that will add color to your garden and grow more than 50 feet tall and wide. Also, its growth slows down after it attains maturity, so you don’t have to worry about pruning all the time.

3.     Japanese Maple

This tree showcases different shades of colors through the Spring and Fall season. Its ferny foliage, which creates a crisscrossing canopy, takes on a bright orange-green color in early spring and transforms into a striking red in the Fall season. The Japanese Maple lacy leaves allow light to sift through it, giving it an unforgettable luminous sigh. Furthermore, it is compact, so it’s the perfect fast-growing tree to plant in a small yard or garden.

Other fast-growing trees to plant in the pacific northwest include western red cedar, the cherry, the incense cedar, and the common juniper trees. If you need help strategically planting the trees in your garden to beautify your yard or provide shade for relaxation, you can reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping today!

 

Growing Vines in Your YardOO

Posted on by levylawns

Oh, the beautiful and sometimes pesky vine.

So, you’ve decided to grow vines in your yard to increase your yard appeal, hide an unsightly fence, or for whatever reason. But you’ve heard that they can quickly become a nuisance. Well, growing vines can indeed get out of hand and take over your yard (and even your neighbor’s). Nevertheless, not all vines are invasive. In this post, you will learn which vines to use and which to avoid when growing vines in your yard.

Vines to Grow in Your Yard

There are several vines that won’t take over your yard when you grow them. Of course, they also twine, climb, lean, sprawl and twist around objects and trees. But, they don’t spread and become a nuisance you have to fight to remove. Here are two notable vines we think you should grow in your Pacific Northwest yard.

1.     Clematis

This spectacular vine is not just beautiful, but it also has a heavenly scent. While some Clematis bloom all year round, some bloom at different seasons, and all in a variety of colors. So, you can plant different types of the vine to give your yard a new look every season. We particularly love the Avalanche and the Wisley Cream.

2.    Climbing Hydrangea

Even compared to other non-invasive vines, this vine grows really slowly. So, you don’t have to worry about it taking over your yard. However, it has heavy vines. Hence, you may have to provide something sturdy for it to lean on. Better still, grow it close to a fence or near a sturdy structure allocated for the vine.

Other non-invasive vines to grow in your yard include:

  • The Star Jasmine,
  • The Black-Eyed Susan Vine,
  • The White Bark Raspberry

Vines to Avoid Growing in Your Yard

Don’t be tempted by their attractive looks. Avoid invasive vines at all costs. No, you can’t curb their natural habit of growing and spreading rapidly, and don’t let anyone tell you otherwise. Some would even attach themselves to your house and cause destruction. Here are two vines you should avoid growing in your yard.

1.     Chinese Wisteria

Gorgeous pink at full bloom, but this vine will sprout a new root wherever it touches the ground. Then, it would fling open its seed pods to spread its seeds all over your yard. If you really want a Wisteria in your yard, the native American Wisteria is a better choice

2.    Kudzu

Planting imported plants is a great way to make your garden stand out. But, the Kudzu is a vine you should avoid. You may have heard that they are great for erosion control. But, they are also very invasive and will strangle the other plants, and even trees, in your garden.

Other invasive vines to avoid growing in your yard include

  • Winter Creeper
  • Five-Leaf Akebia
  • Japanese Honeysuckle

Need help growing vines in your yard? Contact us today at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping!

 

Easy Garden Décor With Tree Branches

Posted on by levylawns

When it comes to using natural elements for garden décor, most people think of landscaping with rocks. But, did you know that tree branches can be used to improve your garden decor? Yes, those hanging or fallen tree branches all over your garden can do much more than serving as fuel for your fire pit. In this post, you’ll find ideas for easy garden decors with tree branches.

3 Ways To Use Tree Branches To Decorate Your Garden

Stop letting those tree branches in your garden go to waste. Here are three ways you can repurpose them to decorate your garden.

1.     Build a Garden Arbor or Chair

You can build a simple garden harbor or lounge chair with tree branches and twigs if you love DIY projects. You don’t have to make it elaborate for it to be a beautiful addition to your garden. Just punch in some holes and nail the branches together to build the chair or arbor, and the rustic look will add charm to your garden.

2.    Provide Support for Plants

If you’re trying container gardening in the Pacific Northwest, you can construct a potholder for your pots or containers instead of just placing them on the ground. This will give it an elevated garden look. You can also construct a tree branch ladder to serve as a trellis for climbing flowers to twine around.

3.     Create Borders & Boundaries

You can use tree branches to build a picket fence to give your garden a rustic look. They can also be used to create boundaries around different parts of your garden and borders to protect specific plants. Furthermore, you can strip a couple of inches of the side of small branches to make a decorative plant marker. You can write creative names for your plants on the markers to add a personal touch to your garden.

Need more creative ways to decorate your garden? Contact us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping today!

Organic Vs. Non-Organic Potting Soil – Is One Better?

Posted on by levylawns

 organic or non-organic?

Although most people will argue that organic potting soil is better than inorganic potting soil, the truth is neither of the two is perfect

Are you thinking of starting a container garden or potting your vegetables before transplanting them to your garden, but can’t decide on the type of soil to use? You’ve heard that you can’t just use your yard or garden soil for potting your plant. But, which potting soil is better: organic or non-organic? Continue reading to find out.

What is Potting Soil?

Potting soil is soil that is specifically made for growing plants in containers or pots. Unlike garden soil, which gets easily compacted in pots and prevents roots from growing easily, potting soil is fluffy. It also lacks contaminants like weed seeds and debris that may be in your garden soil.  

Organic Potting Soil

First, you should know that organic potting soil is not free from chemical compounds. They are referred to as organic because they are made from decaying natural organic materials such as seaweed, bone and fish meal and worm casting, and are rich in nutrients and microbes. These materials enable adequate aeration and hydration, and promote nutrient retention.

Inorganic Potting Soil

As the name implies, inorganic potting soil is made of materials that are not organic. Also known as potting mixtures, it is often made from three essential components: peat moss, perlite and bark. These essential components don’t contain “harmful chemicals” and give the soil a neutral PH. However, the mixture isn’t nutritious, so synthetic fertilizers are added to provide nutrients to the plant.

Organic Vs. Inorganic: Which Is Better?

Although most people will argue that organic potting soil is better than inorganic potting soil, the truth is neither of the two is perfect, depending on the plant type and needs. For example, organic potting soil is best and safer for vegetables, as you won’t have to worry about chemicals from fertilizer seeping into a crop you intend to consume. On the other hand, plants like succulents will do well in inorganic potting soil.

Another factor to consider is cost. Non-organic potting soil is cheaper than organic potting soil. You can also opt for already made potting blends for the specific plant you want to cultivate. The bottom line is that good quality potting soil, whether organic or inorganic, will help your plant grow better than just using just any soil.

 

How To Mow a Lawn with A Severe Slope

Posted on by levylawns

Impossible?

Mowing a lawn with a severe slope can seem almost impossible. We know how difficult it can be pushing a lawnmower uphill against gravity, not to mention the danger of slipping as you mow downhill. So, we don’t blame you if you decide to leave your lawn overgrown. However, there some strategies that can help you mow your slope lawn.

5 Tips for Mowing A Steep Lawn

Even with a severe slope, your lawn can be mowed and kept lush and beautiful. Here are some tips to enable you mow a lawn with a severe slope safely.

Never Mow Straight Up or Down

It’s dangerous to push a mower directly up or down a steep lawn. You’ll require lots of effort to maintain your balance, and the chance of losing your footing is high. The best way to mow a lawn with a severe slope is to mow along the slope laterally. That is, you should mow crosswise, from left to right, side to side. Also, you should avoid riding mowers on a severe slope, as you may flip over.

Set Your Mower at A Higher Setting

Setting your mower deck high will make it easier for you to push it around, especially when you are mowing the side of a severe slope. In addition, the higher setting will get you over bumps and lumps easier and reduce the chances of bouncing around on the ground.

Wear The Right Shoes & Gloves

Shoes with cleats are the best kind of shoes to wear to mow a steep lawn. The cleats will give you extra traction, keeping your feet firmly on the ground and preventing you from slipping down the slope. Also, quality gloves will help you get a better grip on the mower.

Never Mow When Lawn is Wet

Slipping down a lawn with a severe slope is far easier when the grasses are wet than dry. Yes, even when you are wearing the right shoes. Also, mowing wet ground is bad for the soil, as the power can uproot some of the grass.

Hire A Professional Landscaper

If your lawn is steeper than a 10-foot or 15-degree incline, then perhaps you should hire a landscaper to help you with low-maintenance landscaping options. You can contact us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping to transform your lawn with a severe slope into a beautiful landscape, eliminating the need to mow it constantly.


 

 

 

“Mowing a lawn with a severe slope can seem almost impossible.”