Lawn Care | Fredell Enterprises | Professional Landscape Services

Mulching

There are many ambiguities when it comes to gardening; plants that thrive, synthetic versus organic fertilizers, wildlife deterrents, etc. However, one certainty you can count on is that mulch is good for all gardens. Not only is mulch aesthetically pleasing, but it also has several practical benefits.

One of the primary benefits of mulch installation is that it retains moisture, and thus, reduces the amount of supplemental irrigation needed. It helps control soil erosion by softening the impact of rainwater. It also improves soil quality via decomposition. One benefit that gardeners especially like is that it helps to control weeds. With all these benefits it’s no wonder why mulching is so popular!

Mulch comes in many different colors and textures so that it is easy to find one that will suit the needs of most landscapes. The type of mulch that should be used depends on the color desired and the amount of wind on site.

Many ask when is a good time to mulch, and luckily it can be done any time of the year and should be reapplied every two to three years to make up for the loss due to decomposition and wind. Typically, only 1/3 of the original amount needs to be added. It is generally recommended that the mulch be applied 3” thick. If it is too thin it might lead to weed issues and not hold in moisture very well. If it is too thick it might not let enough light and water pass through for optimal plant growth. When applied properly, mulching has many practical benefits.

Water Feature | Mulch

Water Fountain Water Feature in Mulch Soil

Soil Cement | Water Feature | Mulch

Pavers | Path | Rock Mulch

Siloam Stone Walls | Water Feature | Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Mulch

Siloam Stone | Mulch

Pathway | Steps | Mulch | Asphalt

Seating | Retaining Wall | Mulch | Steps

Dry Creek Bed | Mulch

Soil Cement Path | Rock Mulch

Dry Creek Mulch

Fall Yard Maintenance

Landscape Maintenance, Lawn Care

Although September still gives us plenty of beauty in the landscape, fall is just around the corner and the end of the gardening season in near. Here are a few landscape tips to help you head into autumn.

Fertilize lawn.
Overseed bare or thin spots in lawn.
Continue mowing operations.
Dead head annuals and perennials.
Divide overgrown perennials and ornamental grasses.
Inspect sprinkler system operation, adjust timing as needed.

The end of October is the finish line for the gardening season. This is the time to rake leaves, shut down the irrigation, and rake the planting beds. Here’s a few checklist items to help you through this process.

Follow temporary draining instructions for sprinkler system (page 9), as temperatures dictate.
Clean off tops of dried perennials.
Plant spring-blooming bulbs.
Adjust staking of new trees.
Dead head annuals and perennials.
Rake leaves (if not cleaned up, fallen leaves can be harmful to sod and often can harbor insects and diseases harmful to plants).
Reduce watering times on sprinkler zones.

November is the time to put your garden to rest for the winter by mulching beds and wrapping trees. Here’s a few checklist items for garden chores of the month to help you.

Mulch roses and tender perennials.
Rake leaves
Cut back perennials to 2-3” from the ground.
Wrap trees, especially aspens in deer areas.
Drain (blow out) sprinkler system.
Remove annuals.

Irrigation Shutdown

Each fall, before the first hard freeze, sprinkler systems are “blown out.” This happens in regions where frost in the ground reaches below the depth of the irrigation pipes. In Colorado Springs, blowouts are usually done in October and November.

It’s convenient to delay the irrigation shut down as long as possible so that you limit the amount of time that you have to water by hand. When the night temperatures start dropping below freezing, but the hard freezes haven’t quite yet set in, it is important to temporarily drain your system. This removes most of the water from the back flow preventer so that it doesn’t freeze, expand, and break. However, it doesn’t remove the water from the underground pipes, which is only done during the blowout with an air compressor.