Category: Landscape Projects

Protecting Your Garden from Snow

Posted on by levylawns

The hallmark of the winter season is the snow. Ordinarily, snow won’t hurt your plants. However, heavier layers of snow can impede plant growth, break plant stems, and outright kill your plants. So, it would help if you put in measures to protect your garden from the snow to ensure that your plants are covered and kept out of harm’s way. Here, we have curated a list of how you can protect your garden from snow.

  1. Apply Mulch

Adding an extra layer of mulch to your garden can help protect your fragile plants from snow. With mulching, the soil can retain optimum temperature suitable for plant growth. In addition, if you use organic materials in preparing your mulch, it will decompose and improve your soil quality.

  1. Use Dollies

If you have potted the plants in your garden, it is a great idea to keep them on dollies. With this, you’d only have to wheel them to safety once temperatures drop and it starts freezing.

  1. Cover Your Plants

As for plants, you can’t move away from the cold, covering them is an effective way to keep them protected in your garden. You do not have to break the bank to keep your plants covered, simple everyday items can be revamped for this purpose.

Some great covering material ideas include old cardboard boxes, plastic juice boxes, plastic bags, or bins. You can even optimize these items by cutting holes in them large enough to make them breathable but small enough to keep the snow at bay.

In conclusion, snows do not have to mean death sentences for your plants. With the right protective measures, you can get ahead of the freezing and be the proud owner of a blossoming garden come to Spring. Need help protecting your garden from the snow? Reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping.

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.

 

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!

 

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!

Posted on by levylawns

Can Discarded Furniture Be Used To Plant Flowers In The Garden?

When you have furniture to discard, you probably think of your local thrift shop. Or, you come up with reasons to keep that old sofa and find ways to can still use it. If the question, “can discarded furniture be used to plant flowers?” ever crossed your mind, then the answer is absolutely! Yes, you can use discarded furniture to plant flowers in your garden. Continue reading to learn how.

How To Use Furniture To Plant Flowers

No matter the type of furniture you want to discard, you can repurpose it into a planter for flowers in your garden. Here’s how some discarded furniture can be used to plant flowers in the garden.

Desks and Dressers

Desks and dressers have drawers that can serve as containers for planting flowers. First, line the inside of the drawers with plastic garbage bags, and drill a couple of holes through the bags and drawer bottoms. This will enable sufficient drainage of water and prevent the wood from decaying quickly. Next, fill the drawers with potting soil and plant your flowers. Then, open some drawers a little and others entirely to create a layered effect.

Broken Chairs

Yes, even a broken chair can be used to plant flowers in your garden. Just cut out the seat and hang a plastic container in it to plant your flowers. You can even grow climbing plants that will twine around the back of the chair.  

Bed Frame

You can literally put the bed in “flowerbed” by planting flowers in an old bed. After taking out the mattress, cut out some sections of the bottom wood of the bed frame. Then, fit in several planters or containers to plant your flowers.

The bottom line is that discarded furniture can be repurposed as planters. So, before you discard that old piece of furniture, first think about how you can use them to plant flowers. If you need more creative ideas to make your garden look even more fabulous, reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping today!

 

Partition Your Garden

Posted on by levylawns

Partition Your Garden Using Boundaries, Borders, and Clever Planting

Partitioning your garden is a great way to improve your garden design, create a private area for socializing or relaxation, and even keep prying eyes out of your garden. Whatever your reason for deciding to partition your garden, you can use boundaries, borders and clever planting.

How To Partition Your Garden

Thinking of partitioning your small or spacious garden? Outlined below are some ideas for creating partitions in your garden with boundaries, borders, and clever planting.

1.     Climbing Plants

You can use climbing plants to create a boundary or border with an archway. Also, climbers that grow vigorously, such as clematis and jasmine, can be grown near a dividing wall or trellis to make a luscious green boundary.

2.    Bricks & Stones

Bricks can be used to build a low wall to partition a private relaxation nook.  Drape the wall with rambling plants like nasturtiums for a pop of color. You can use stones to create borders around different sections of your garden, as well as pathways between them.

3.     Trees & Branches

Deciduous trees like Shadwood and Birch trees can help provide boundaries at the edges of your garden. These trees have airy foliage that allows sunlight to still get through to your garden plants. Also, fallen tree branches can be used to create rustic short fences around different sections of your garden.  

4.    Hedging Plants

Plant evergreen hedges like Yew and Beech to use as green borders. You can even trim the hedges into attractive topiary shapes. Bright flower hedges like foxgloves can also be used to block outsiders from looking in, while giving your garden a pop of color.

5.     Pergola or Arbor

Building a pergola or arbor will create a section of your garden where you can relax with family or socialize with friends. You can border the area with a trellis made from tree branches, and decorate it with climbing plants.

Need help creating beautiful partitions in your garden or yard? Reach out to us at Levy’s Lawns & Landscaping today!

 

 

Best Plants to Plant in The Shade for Seattle, WA

Posted on by levylawns

Not all plants can thrive in the shade of Seattle. As a gardener, knowing what plants fits where is the first step to cultivating a beautiful garden. So, if you’ve recently moved to Seattle or found it challenging to find plants that can thrive in the shady areas of your Seattle garden, this post is for you.

Top 5 Shade-Tolerant Plants For Your Seattle Garden

Whether a particular part of your garden is shaded for a couple of hours or does not get direct sunlight all day, these plants will bloom in the Seattle shade.

#1: Lenten Rose

The Lenten Rose is a low-growing perennial plant that blooms with beautiful tropical foliage. If you fancy a colorful garden, then you should definitely plant the Lenten rose. They come in various colors, and due to their dense nature, they can help control weed growth.

#2: Hostas

Hostas can thrive beautifully under shades. They even attract animals such as bumblebees, hummingbirds, and slugs. They can do well without much attention, but when in need of water, they start wilting. However, they don’t die quickly, and will regain their glow immediately they are watered.

#3: Bleeding Hearts

This plant thrives excellently in shades, and when summer comes, it goes dormant. Its flowers come majorly in three variations; white, red, and pink. Depending on your garden goals, the bleeding hearts can be a beautiful addition to your garden.

#4: Indian Plum

The Indian Plum is a deciduous plant. The female species have pendant-like white flowers that give off a faint fresh scent. During the fall, the leaves of the Indian Plum turn yellow. Having the Indian Plum means your property will be home to birds as they are attracted to the tiny plum fruits of this plant.

#5: Ferns

Unlike the previously discussed plants, ferns don’t have beautiful, colorful flowers. In fact, they have no flowers at all, and this can be discouraging for many gardeners. Nevertheless, ferns can be a great planting option for your shady garden as they are durable and can survive harsh weather conditions.

Need more suggestions or help planting beautiful plants in the shade of your Seattle garden? Contact us today at Levy’s Lawn & Landscaping!

 

 

Where To Focus Pruning Efforts

Posted on by levylawns

pruning basics by levy's lawns and landscaping washington

So, the trees in your yard look like they’ve seen better days, and you’re considering pruning them. It’s a great idea. Pruning will help restore their structure and improve their health. It’ll also manage the direction of their growth and reduce the risk of causing damage to people or property. But where should you focus your pruning efforts? Read on to find out.

How To Decide Where To Focus Pruning Efforts

Two major factors determine how much you should prune your tree:  the age and the health status of the tree.

  • Is the tree matured or young? You should prune a matured tree lightly, as its growth rate has slowed down. On the other hand, a young tree can withstand heavier pruning, as it will grow back its branches rapidly.
  • Is the tree healthy or diseased? If a tree is suffering from a severe disease, you’re likely to do more pruning than you would from a healthy tree. Branches that won’t be removed from a healthy tree would have to be cut because they are diseased.

Parts of The Tree To Prune

Sometimes, all you need to focus on is removing some twigs and overgrown branches. Other times, you would need to remove more. In any case, here are the several tree parts to focus your pruning efforts.

  • Diseased, dying or dead branches
  • Twigs sprouting at the trunk’s base
  • Branches growing across the tree’s center
  • Branches that cross and rub together or may rub in the future
  • Vertical branches that may grow into additional or secondary trunks
  • Overgrown foliage and branches affecting buildings, power lines or visibility.

How To Prune Your Tree

When pruning, you should cut back to a bud, twig or branch to encourage healthy new growth. However, you have to do it carefully, so you don’t cut into the trunk and remove or expose live tissues, as this will create an entry for insect pests and diseases that may damage the tree. You can avoid this by cutting branches just before the points where they spring from the trunk (i.e., the collar). You can find a more in-depth pruning guide here, or reach out to us at Levy’s Lawn and Landscaping for professional help.