Landscape Tips and Trends

Early Leaf and Needle Drop

Tuesday, August 23rd, 2011 at 4:53pm. 38 Views, 0 Comments.

Early leaf drop in deciduous trees is most likely due to the extreme heat and humidity. Otherwise healthy trees will not be adversely affected over the long run.

Early needle drop has been observed in some evergreen trees, mainly pine. Natural needle drop typically begins in September, so this early needle loss is likely due to extreme heat and humidity.  If only the interior needles uniformly turn yellow throughout the tree, this is most likely natural needle drop and no action or control is needed.

Millipedes

Saturday, July 30th, 2011 at 10:45am. 40 Views, 0 Comments.

Millipedes are one inch long, brown critters with numerous short legs.

They are promoted by moisture and their numbers can be quite high during wet weather or near overwatered mulched beds.

They are commonly seen on the side of homes and may enter homes through cracks and crevices. They are not insects, but are in the crustacean family and so insecticides are not very effective against them. They do not damage plants, pets or buildings.

For severe infestations Penton Enterprises has had sucess controlling Millipedes with certain insecticides applied around the perimeter of the property and the foundation.

For mild infestations they are best managed by caulking cracks and crevices to prevent entry into the home.

Frost Damaged Leaves

Wednesday, May 19th, 2010 at 8:33pm. 265 Views, 0 Comments.

Trees budded fairly early this spring; long before the average frost free dates. If tree leaves are injured by frost, otherwise healthy trees will develop secondary buds and re-leaf without any long term negative effects on trees.

Fall Landscapes

Wednesday, September 9th, 2009 at 12:57pm. 240 Views, 0 Comments.

Fall Landscapes

When is the best time of the year to plant trees, shrubs and perennials? Should we wait until spring to install our landscape?

These are the most frequently asked questions that we hear during the fall of the year.

One of the best times to consider new landscaping is from September through November; in some years December plantings will have great success as long as the ground is not frozen.

In the fall, days are cooler, rain is more frequent and plants are headed into their dormant or hibernation period putting a lot of their energy into their root system. We can plant successfully any time of the year as long as the ground is not frozen.

Here are some tips to ensure late season survivability:

1 - Water frequently and deeply this time of year…

Evergreens Turning Brown?

Saturday, April 25th, 2009 at 10:20pm. 3013 Views, 0 Comments.

Every spring we seem to always find dead, brown foliage on evergreen plants including pine, boxwood, spruce, fir, juniper, arborvitae and yew. The extent of the symptoms can vary from brown needle tips on one side of the plant, to one or two branches, to the whole tree or shrub. This brown foliage found on evergreens is a symptom of winter desiccation.

Winter desiccation occurs when the amount of water lost by the foliage exceeds the amount picked up by the roots causing the leaves and needles to dry out and die. During winter months, photosynthetic processes are slowed, but evergreens continue to lose water at a higher rate than deciduous trees. Often you will notice that evergreen leaves and needles will hold their green color after the injury until warm…

The Value of Plants and Landscaping

Tuesday, April 14th, 2009 at 7:07pm. 1690 Views, 0 Comments.

A for sale home with a well maintained landscape and lawn can make a substantial difference with attracting prospective buyers.  Here are some interesting facts regarding the value of well maintained and designed landscapes.

• Landscaping can add between 7 and 15 percent to a home's value. Source: The Gallup Organization.
• Homes with "excellent" landscaping can expect a sale price about 6 to 7 percent higher than equivalent houses with "good" landscaping, while improving landscaping from "average" to "good" can result in a 4 to 5 percent increase. Source: Clemson University.
• Landscaping can bring a recovery value of 100 to 200 percent at selling time. Kitchen remodeling brings a 75 to 125 percent recovery rate, bathroom remodeling a 20 to 120 percent recovery…