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The Best Weed Prevention There Is?

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:32:03 GMT

A thick, lush, healthy lawn!

Spring weeds are the bane of the lawn lover. Perennial broad-leaf weeds like dandelions and violets pop up in your lawn in spring and – before you know it – have taken it over. These weeds invade quickly and spread relentlessly, so you need to strike back at the first sign of trouble.

As with most things, the best cure is prevention but – in general – the most effective preventative steps needed to be taken last fall. But here we are in spring, and – with all the rain we’ve received in central Kentucky – the weeds are taking over lawns everywhere.

A thick healthy lawn really is the best weed prevention and control there is…

The dandelion’s tap root goes down a foot or more, so are quite difficult to erradicate.

If you’re seeing weeds in your lawn, it’s time to adopt an effective ‘weed-and-feed’ strategy. The key is to take the weeds down and give your lawn what it needs to quickly smother the remaining roots.

Bare, patchy areas in your lawn allow weed seeds to quickly germinate in the sunny, exposed soil, preventing your turf from populating that space.

Healthy grass root establishment creates tall and dense grass blades to smother weeds, and that’s where the ‘feed’ in weed and feed comes in. Your lawn needs the proper nutrients and care that will help it to thrive.

In order to know exactly which fertilizers your lawn needs, it’s necessary to first find out which nutrients your soil is lacking by having it tested. Precise feeding will ensure that your lawn thrives as it begins to grow.

Weed prevention should be specific to your lawn to treat both effectively and safely

Equally important is knowing precisely which herbicides are effective on specific weeds. For instance, many broad-leaf herbicides are completely ineffective on wild violet despite working on other broad-leaf weeds.

In addition, cutting your lawn to the correct height helps to minimize weed growth. If you cut your lawn too short, sunlight penetrates the soil and helps weed seeds germinate. Mowing with dull lawn blades can lead to trouble too – portions of grass can be pulled up during mowing, leaving patches the weed seeds will thrive in.

With the busy lives we lead these days, a healthy beautiful lawn is best left to a professional. A good deal of money is wasted each year by DIY approaches that ultimately fail to produce optimal results.

Mow Mow’s professional team has the knowledge and expertise to give you a healthy and vigorous lawn. Importantly, weed treatment and prevention can adversely effect the bee population in your area, and Mow Mow’s has the experience and knowledge needed to treat all lawn problems effectively and safely for the planet, your family and your pets.

Call Mow Mow’s today to get the lawn you desire and deserve by calling 859-475-4500 to schedule your free consultation and quote.

Save money! Ask us about annual maintenance packages for pre-scheduled landscaping services year ’round.

How does your garden grow?

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:23:58 GMT

Probably not with silver bells and cockleshells*, considering there aren’t any sandy beaches in central Kentucky ��

~ Have you ever moved into a new home that has either a badly neglected flower garden or no garden at all? It’s happened to me a few times, and the untended space always starts me longing to fill it with a beautiful new garden of my own design. But I always hit the same wall, where do I begin?

At this time of year those trips you make to the big-box store for new faucets and door knobs begin to include the lure of the garden center.

Waves of brightly colored blooms and intriguing vines, flowers and shrubs in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and textures draw the eye like magnets. I usually find myself overwhelmed by all of the wonderful options on display, and frustrated by indecision. You know you can’t just grab a random selection of your favorites and expect to somehow make it work, sadly there is little chance of success in creating a garden you will love with impulse choices.

The best way to start planning a front garden is to take a step back. Remember that the front flower bed is meant to compliment the architecture of your home, to look like it was specifically made for your home as an extension of it’s exterior. If your home’s architecture is formal, for example, you may want to soften that a bit, but you can’t ignore it all together. A cottage style garden on a colonial home, as much as you may adore them, will be an awkward fit. Go crazy in the backyard if you must, but respect the role the front garden plays in curb appeal. Your neighbors will thank you for it, and a well designed and maintained front garden will play a part in curb appeal should you decide to sell you home in the future.

Step one is the work of creating the perfect garden bed. While it’s easiest to just put in the standard rectangular bed running the length of the wall, it’s not the only – and rarely the best – way to go. Gently curved garden borders that carry to the side wall do a great job softening the straight, square edges of some homes, while the undulating border that follows the curves of other styles of home helps the garden bed blend as a more natural extension of the home. Once you’ve mapped out the shape of the bed, it’s time to choose what you’ll use to define the border and put a clean edge between your garden and your lawn.

Soil preparation is next up, and your garden’s success is best achieved by first choosing which plants you’ll be adorning it with. While there are a few plants which are highly adaptable to any soil type, they are the rare exception. Nearly all plants have specific soil, sun, and water needs in order to thrive. What is the optimal pH range, soil texture, and water retention level? Some plants don’t mind being watered from above, while others will suffer if not watered at soil level. Likewise drainage – certain plants simply can’t survive wet feet and will not tolerate heavy clay soils

Choosing your Foundation Plants

Take a look at the more established homes of neighbors. You’ll find many homeowners regard the front garden as simply a functional extension of their home to be installed and maintained, but otherwise uninspired. They choose common and sensible foundation plants, contract for maintenance, and forget it. Not everyone is a gardener, so this works well for them. But if you love gardening, it’s fun to design something a bit more inspired.

You can cover all of the bases without being limited to the boring and staid – squared shrubs of boxwood all in a row with monkey grass for a border. There’s room for your personal creativity, and a wonderful array of perennials in size, shape, texture and shades of green when not in bloom to choose from. The appearance of your foundation plants – those which will most perfectly compliment the home for many years to come – is the best place to start.

If you don’t want bare branches in the winter months, why not go with evergreens? Evergreens will give you a consistent look year round, and are highly adaptable to acting as backdrop support characters in the more whimsical spring, summer and fall garden plantings. From the stately columnar arborvitae to the graceful sprawling fronds of the juniper, you can follow the lines of your home from tall to small, and taper the ends with low and spreading choices. They all appreciate a good trim, but you can also turn the arborvitae into a towering spiral, and the juniper into a compact orb for the perfect contrast.

Although these coniferous varieties are the first to come to mind when you hear the word ‘evergreen,’ not all evergreens are conifers. Other evergreen plants include euonymus, rhododendron and holly bush. While the holly can be a nightmare to work with, the beauty of it’s shiny waxed leaves, bright red berries in the gray of winter, and superior ability to ward off would be burglars make it widely popular.

Key Considerations

Are there windows across the wall which serves as a back drop to your garden? If so, and actually in all cases, know the full potential in height and spread of the plants you choose. A great looking approach is to plant bushes that will grow to skirt the bottom of the window across it’s span, and add the columnar conifers on either side of the window. It’s also the perfect approach where a bay window is concerned.

The options are nearly endless, so why not just browse various designs on the internet. You’ll not only find garden designs that spark your creative juices, you’ll also come across those which will help you define exactly what you do not like! A great way to conduct such a search is to refer to your home’s architecture. For example: “Best garden designs for ranch style homes.”

Once you have your foundation garden exactly as you like it, you can move on to the foreground plantings, where the rules are much more lax, leaving room for your personal touch to take center stage.

Next week we’ll get in to how best to approach the addition of color and interest with complimentary perennials and annuals that will put the finishing touch on your perfect garden.

Welcome To Spring!

If you’d like to consult with a landscape design professional for help with your garden design, and get the hard dirty work done for you, look no further than Mow Mow’s Family Landscaping. Jennifer does an amazing job of turning your vision into a reality. The Mow Mow’s award winning team is prompt, professional, and knowledgeable. Satisfaction guaranteed! Give Jennifer a call at 859-475-4500

* Random reference to Mother Goose’s nursery rhyme ‘Mary, Mary, Quite Contrary.’

Artificial Turf For Dogs Before & After

Fri, 31 May 2019 15:00:20 GMT

Tired of muddy paws and patchy lawns?

Artificial Turf for Dogs

Fri, 31 May 2019 14:50:45 GMT

Tired of muddy paws and patchy lawns?

Remember AstroTurf? Artificial grass first gained substantial attention in the 1960s, when it was used in the newly constructed Houston Astrodome.

Artificial turf, which has come a long way since the 60’s, is a surface of synthetic fibers made to look like natural grass. This new generation of turf systems feature longer fibers and offer infills that are mixtures of sand and granules of recycled rubber. It is most often used in sports arenas; however, it is now being increasingly used on residential lawns.

Most recently, the use of artificial turf for your dog is gaining in popularity. These canine products are designed specifically for dogs.

In residential applications, the main reason artificial turf is used is maintenance—artificial turf stands up to heavy use and requires no irrigation or trimming.

Artificial grass is a low-maintenance landscaping solution that offers several benefits for pet owners. It’s easy to manage and solves some of the most common problems pet owners face with natural lawn.

1. Artificial Grass Is Easy to Clean

One of the biggest benefits for pet owners is that artificial turf is incredibly easy to clean. You can easily hose the grass down to get rid of liquid waste, while any solids can be spotted and then picked up and safely disposed of.

2. There’s No Mud

Here in central Kentucy we’ve had nearly 7” of rain since the 1st of April, so if you have pets, mud on your floors has been unavoidable

Even the smallest amount of moisture can cause muddy areas in your yard – and there’s little doubt that your dog will find it and track it inside – leaving your floors and carpet a mess. Canine turf eliminates this problem completely.

3. It Always Looks Good

Anyone who owns a playful dog and has a natural grass lawn already knows that they can cause it to look patchy or muddy, particularly if he plays out there with children or other dogs. It’s hard work to keep natural grass looking good in the best of times, and it’s even more difficult when you have an energetic cog or two in the family.

With canine turf your pets can spend all day running around on the artificial grass with no damage or signs of wear. No matter what the weather is like, the canine grass will look great 365 days a year.

See More Dog Turf Before & After Pictures –>

5. Dogs Can’t Dig Up the Yard

If your dog is a ‘digger,’ you know it’s nearly impossible to break that instinct – some breeds are specifically bred to dig, including many terrier breeds and dachsunds for example.

Holes in your yard are not only ugly, but can be a hazard – I’ve had more sprained ankles from accidently stepping into unexpected holes in the ground than I can count.

Canine turf creates a level surface, and is an effective way of making sure that your dog won’t be able to create unsighly holes in your yard anymore.

6. Immunity to Pests & Bacteria

Artificial grass is not natural, which means that ticks, fleas, bacteria, and other crawling critters find it to be an unattractive host- give you a tremendous advantage in the fight against fleas and ticks on your pets and in your home.

7. Artificial Turf Is a Friend to the Environment

An artificial lawn can coexist with natural plants and trees; it creates no fumes or spills from gas-powered lawnmowers; produces no environmental damage or safety hazard from fertilizers and pesticides, and saves an average 55 gallons of annual household water consumption.

8. Isn’t it expensive?

There’s actually a substantial ROI when balanced against natural turf over time. Artificial turf actually allows you to save money in the long run.

It takes about .623 gallons of water to irrigate a square foot of a real grass lawn. With the average lawn being about 700 square feet, it would take around 436 gallons of water each time you water your lawn – that’s over 150,000 gallons a year! When calculating the number of gallons wasted on irrigating a real grass lawn, the results are surprising.

Give Mow Mow’s experienced professionals a call to see if artificial turf is right for you.

Save money! Ask us about an annual maintenance package for pre-scheduled landscaping services year ’round.

Call 859-475-4500 to get schedule your free consultation for a quote on preparing your lawn.

There are many different options for artificial turf, with various installation methods optimized specifically for your particular needs.

Artificial turf installation is best done by a professional – there are just too many variables, such as drainage and leveling, that require a broader knowledge of landscaping as a whole.

MowMow’s Family Landscaping has experience in artificial turf and can design a personalized plan that best fits you – and your dogs’ – needs. Give us a call today!

Call 859-475-4500 to get schedule your free consultation and quote on installing your canine turf.

Mow Mow’s Family Landscaping Wins Super Service Award for 2nd Year in a Row!

Fri, 31 May 2019 14:29:16 GMT

Angie’s List Super Service Award is awarded anually for exceptional service ratings throughout the year ~

February 15, 2019 Lexington, KY – Mow Mow’s Landscaping is proud to announce that it has earned the home service industry’s coveted Angie’s List Super Service Award (SSA) for the second year in a row! This award honors service professionals who have maintained exceptional service ratings and reviews on Angie’s List in 2017 & 2018.

“The service providers that receive our Angie’s List Super Service Award demonstrate the level of excellence that members have come to expect,” said Angie’s List Founder Angie Hicks. “These pros are top-notch and absolutely deserve recognition for the trustworthy and exemplary customer service they exhibited in the past year and overall.”

Angie’s List Super Service Award 2018 winners have met strict eligibility requirements, which include maintaining an “A” rating in overall grade, recent grade and review period grade. The SSA winners must be in good standing with Angie’s List, pass a background check, record a current trade license attestation and abide by Angie’s List operational guidelines.

“Mow Mow’s goal has always been to exceed our customer’s expectations in quality of work, professionalism and promptness of service. It is an honor to receive this reward and be recognized for attaining this goal for the 2nd year in a row.” – Jennifer Medrano, Owner

Mow Mow’s Landscaping has been listed on Angie’s List since 2017 when the company was first launched. This is the second time Mow Mow’s Landscaping has received this honor.

Service company ratings are updated continually on Angie’s List as new, verified consumer reviews are submitted. Companies are graded on an A through F scale in multiple fields ranging from price to professionalism to punctuality.

For over two decades Angie’s List has been a trusted name for connecting consumers to top-rated service professionals. Angie’s List provides unique tools and support designed to improve the local service experience for both consumers and service professionals.

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For over two decades, Angie’s List has provided trusted reviews and information to help millions of consumers make smart hiring decisions. Angie’s List offers more than 10 million verified reviews in over 700 service categories, providing its members a credible resource for researching and comparing local service providers. Angie’s List is based in Indianapolis, Indiana and is an operating business of ANGI Homeservices (NASDAQ:ANGI).

Contact:

Steffanie Finkiewicz

Angie’s List

303-963-8384

mediarelations@angieslist.com

You can check out Mow Mow’s Angie’s List reviews here .

It’s Time To Start Your Seeds Indoors –

Fri, 31 May 2019 10:05:04 GMT

If you’ve been waiting for the perfect time to start your garden, this is it. It’s time to start seeds indoors so they’ll be ready to plant outside when spring begins in earnest. It’s a fun project to get you through the late winter period that’s really all about waiting for spring to finally come calling.

Growing your own – whether flowers or vegetables – can be uniquely satisfying. Planting your seeds with care, then checking for that very first sprout everyday in anticipation is exciting. When you finally plant the first one in your spring garden – especially for the very first time – you’ll feel the pride of accomplishment.

Unfortunately, you don’t always reap what you sow – it’s simply not always as easy as it looks. When success is your goal it’s most important to consider the different needs of each type of seed. They don’t all have the same conditions for germination so be sure to read and follow the directions on the back of each seed packet.

In general, the bigger the seed – the deeper you planted it. Very small seeds, like lettuce seeds, don’t really need ‘planting’ at all – just a thin dusting of soil. That’s one of the very few generalities though, seeds have widely varying needs from light exposure to optimal temperatures. Some seeds can take weeks to show signs of growth, while others will germinate in just a few days.

You may be wondering how nature seems to germinate seeds so seemingly effortlessly. First, while you may plant 20 seeds, countless billions are spread in nature and not all of those will germinate either. Mother Nature also has some tricks on her side that you don’t – like counting on animals and birds to help out. The seeds of fruit eaten by birds run through it’s digestive system, which helps to weaken the tough coats of some seeds.* Animals wander – and birds fly – far away from the parent plant and disperse the seeds in their droppings, while others fall from their feathers or feet. Some seeds are sticky, while others have hooks or barbs that catch onto an animal’s fur, feathers or skin.

Seed Germinating Methods

For the home grower there are many germination methods, and experienced growers usually have one particular method for starting seeds indoors that they they swear by. Let’s explore a couple of the most popular.

The ‘Mini Greenhouse’ Kit

The first method that comes to mind is generally that seed starter kit you’ve seen in stores. These plastic planting trays usually include small pop-out cells that you fill with soil and set in a base tray. Then you plant your seeds and cover the tray with the clear plastic dome to create a small greenhouse which maintains the proper humidity level – then watch them grow. When your seedlings are ready to transplant – usually after it’s developed 3 or more leaves – you simply pop the individual plants from the container, and they’re ready for replanting in a larger pot or in your garden.

You can also use the small biodegradable germinating pots which have the advantage of allowing you to simply plant the entire pot. This method eliminates the risk of breakage or shock in digging them out of the growing cell for planting. The plant’s roots will grow right through the pot which will biodegrade over time. Keep an eye on this type of pot though, they are susceptible to mold. Be sure to space them out so air can pass between them.

Don’t use just any soil either. You can purchase a mixed seed starter soil to make it easy, or create your own. Balcony Garden Web has a few different recipes to choose from.

Paper Towel Seed Germination Method

The paper towel method is very simple. All your need is a square of paper towel, water, and a plastic ziplock bag, food storage container (with a clear lid) or cling wrap and – of course – seeds.

Rip off a square of decent quality paper towel (something that can hold its shape when moist and not fall apart).
Wet the paper towel and then squeeze it so it’s not dripping but moist.
Place your seeds on the paper towel and fold it l over.
Put folded paper towel in ziplock bag, storage container, or cover in cling wrap.
Place on sunny window sill.
Check progress in 3 – 5 days, though some varieties of seeds take much longer (refer to package directions).

Once the seeds have sprouted roots you can proceed to plant them in your starter soil. Some seeds may become embedded in the paper towel, but not to worry. Just plant the seed – paper and all – in your soil, it too will biodegrade over time and you won’t risk tearing the root from the seed.

Other Considerations

*Scarification

Some seeds come with a tough outer coating that is very difficult for a growing root to break through. While seeds get treated roughly in nature, being rubbed against rocks or falling from a height, collected seeds are treated in a more gentle manner. This won’t allow water to penetrate the outer shell to start the germination process. Scarification is the method by which gardeners slightly damage the outer coating of a seed to allow the moisture easier access to the interior. Scrape the outer shell with sandpaper or a nail file, or nick the seed with a sharp knife before planting it in soil. Soaking the seed in water for 24 hours can make scarification easier.

Temperature & Light

While most seeds need warmth to sprout – the top of your refrigerator will usually suffice – heat mats are available for purchase for more accurate control. Light needs for germinating vary as well – most seeds need varying degrees of light, but some actually prefer little or no light at all.

“Hardening Off”

Once spring has come- you won’t want to take your sprouts straight from the house into the garden. They need a little time to acclimate before being planted out. Take them outside on warm days for increasing time periods of exposure – out of direct sun – and take your time moving them from shade to dappled sunlight and finally to full sun. This will avoid the often fatal shock of an extreme change in temperature and light.

Last but not least – it cannot be stressed too strongly that you should read the back of seed packets and heed the directions. All seeds are not created equal! Good luck with growing your own, and know that spring is on it’s way.

Baby it’s Cold Outside

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:53:30 GMT

With this record setting cold, central Kentucky is experiencing what’s known as a ‘hard freeze.’ But what exactly defines a hard freeze? –

A hard freeze refers to extended periods of temperatures below 28° (that temperature would feel like a heatwave at the moment). These conditions are also sometimes referred to as a ‘killing freeze.’ These weather conditions are essentially the same thing with one important difference: dormant plants can generally survive a hard freeze, but actively growing plants can suffer severe damage or death – that’s when it a hard freeze becomes a killing freeze.

It Starts With A Frost

If the super-cooled, freezing temperatures cool to the dew point (the temperature at which, when cooled to at constant pressure, condensation occurs; moisture will have to come out of the atmosphere as fog, frost, etc. Frost is usually found on exposed surfaces like your car – you can easily sweep frost off of your windshield as it is light and fluffy – not frozen hard.

The Beautiful Hoar Frost

We’ve had beautiful hoar frost (also known as hoarfrost) this year. But what is hoar frost? “Hoarfrost is a deposit of interlocking ice crystals (hoar crystals) formed by direct sublimation (the transition of a substance directly from the solid to the gas phase, without passing through the intermediate liquid phase) on objects, usually those of small exposed tree branches, plant stems and leaf surfaces.

Hoarfrost, therefore, is like dew, except when it’s cold enough outside to freeze water (that is when it’s 32°F or 0°C), and there’s moisture in the air, then hoar crystals (flat crystals that interlock together), form from the moisture in the air when it comes in contact with the edge of the object that is below freezing (or vice versa?). So if you get up early enough, especially after a clear cold night, you can experience the direct sublime beauty of hoarfrost in all its simplicity.

Light, Moderate or Hard Frost

As air temperatures cool, the ground also begins giving off heat. This is called radiational cooling as the heat ‘radiates’ from the surface. Generally, the clearer the sky, the more heat is given off. For a frost to kill plants, the earth has to lose enough heat so that the freezing temperature occurs at ground level. If the ground is still warm, it is possible for the frost to hover a bit above ground level. That’s what happens when the tops of your plants are killed by frost but the lower portions remain green. We tend to refer to this as a light frost.

A killing frost is the occurrence of temperatures cold enough to kill all but the hardiest vegetation. A killing frost tends to be the last frost in spring when tender first stems and leaves begin coming up, and the first in fall frost, when plants have not yet begun to lose leaves and flowers.

Then There Are The Freezes

A freeze can happen when the surface air temperature falls to 32° or below; frost may or may not form, depending on the moisture in the air. Freezes are usually caused by what is called advective cooling. Advection is the transference of some atmospheric condition, like heat, humidity, or cold, by the movement of an air mass. Think arctic blast; when one of these blows in, all the annual plants and tender perennials tend to call it a day.

Freezes can be quick or they can linger. If they are cold enough, even a short freeze can do a lot of damage. Even the hardiest perennials will be killed back to ground level by a long, hard freeze. A sure sign is when the ground crunches when you walk on it.

It’s interesting to note that frost and freeze advisories are only issued during growing seasons, both spring and fall. If the plants are dormant, it’s just called cold weather.

Call it what you will – cold, by any other name, is still cold – and baby it’s cold outside right now! Stay in if you can, and if you must venture out – stay safe.

Theres More To A Green Thumb Than You Think ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:41:54 GMT

here’s plenty of time before spring comes a long, but it’s always fun to look through magazines like Southern Living at the beautiful gardens and landscapes featured there. They’re always lush and thriving, often filled with unique plants and flowers you may have never seen before.

But before you start pining for that unusual flora, there are several factors to consider if you want to be successful in having the gardens of your dream. The four most important are sun, soil, water and zone – these factors are the key to having that green thumb. Unfortunately, you can’t count on a plant’s label to give you the whole story, it’s a generalization at best.

Start With What’s Not on That Label: Zone

Zones are the categories detailed in the which breaks the country into segments based primarily on seasonal temperatures. Additionally, how long are the summer, spring and winter seasons, and what are the highest and lowest average temperatures? Zones are numbered with the coldest being zone 1 and the hottest zone 13. Kentucky is broken into two categories in one zone: Zone 6A and 6B. However, you’ll rarely find that on the plant label, instead you’ll find them segmented more simply as Annual or & Perennial. Annuals will only last one season in your particular zone, but perennials will return year after year.

Sunshine, Sweet Sunshine

Most of the plants you’ll find at your local nursery are, however, labeled with one of four sun requirements: full sun, part sun, part shade and shade. Full sun basically refers to 6 or more hours of direct sun a day. The are best able to tolerate the stronger afternoon sun. Both “part sun” and “part shade” refer to a plant that prefers four to six hours of direct sun each day (best if it comes in the first half of the day). The terms are basically interchangeable. When you see “part sun” used, the grower is stressing that the plant requires at least four hours of sun and will likely do better with closer to six hours.

There is a subtle difference in light preference for a plant labeled “part sun” vs. one that says “part shade.” But, essentially, the two terms mean about the same thing. When you see “part sun” used, it means the plant should not receive more than four to six hours of sun and that morning sun is best. Part shade indicates a only a slight difference in that it will likely do best in dappled morning sun a tree canopy provides.

Lastly, full shade does not mean no sun at all, but that the plant will do best with shorter time in the less intense morning sun. Full shade plants are great for planting near the base of a tree or under an eave that lets only the early morning sun in.

Dishing the Dirt

Believe it or not, soil requirements can be wildly complicated. There are six main soil types:

Clay
Sandy
Silty
Peaty
Chalky
Loamy

Much of central Kentucky’s soil is clay, which is not very hospitable:

Clay drains poorly
Few air spaces
Warms slowly in spring
Heavy to cultivate
If drainage is improved, plants grow well as it holds more nutrients than many other soils

Last But Not Least, Water

Water is the easiest part of a successful garden. While plants differ in water requirements, it’s a much easier element to control. The best way to judge whether or not your plants need water is to simply watch them. When a plant begins to droop and no other issues are apparent, it’s likely time to water it. Conversely, yellowing leaves are usually a good sign that your plants are getting too much water. There are other concerns specific to some plants, some of which are fine with being watered from above, but others should only be watered at the soil – and no plants should be watered in the heat of the day or late in the evening. Watering in the heat of the day can burn your plants foliage, and watering late can result in molding.

These last three – sun, soil, and water – are best addressed by making sure your plants are grouped by like preferences. Don’t plant one that craves damp soil in the same bed as one that needs periods of fully dry soil.

Easier still? Hire an expert landscape designer to plan out and plant your gardens for you. A professional landscaping company has the knowledge and experience learned through extensive training and hours of dirty hands. Hiring a professional landscaper will cost you less in the end, because you won’t watch the plants you spent all that time and money on go down the drain. Jennifer of Mow Mow’s Landscaping has the knowledge and years of experience to give you the lush, successful gardens you desire, and a stellar five star rating from hundreds of satisfied clients. Give Mow Mows a call at 859-475-4500 today or Click Here to start your planning early!

Spring Blooms In The Middle Of Winter ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:24:48 GMT

Rose budding early

Across the Bluegrass the atypical warm weather in Central Kentucky is prompting some trees, bulbs and shrubs to bloom when they shouldn’t. Daffodil and tulip bulbs are sending up tender green periscopes. Lenten roses, or hellebores, are in full bloom, and even roses are budding. That’s something you don’t normally expect to see until March.

These out-of-season blossoms fit into two categories: fall flowers that are having an extended blooming period, and spring flowers that are opening up too early. Asters, toad lilies, chrysanthemums and certain anemones are examples of flowers that usually bloom in the late summer and fall but are also appearing in gardens this winter.

Many spring woody plants are starting to wake up early as well, like winter jasmines, rhododendrons and azaleas. These plants, and nearly all bulbs, require a minimum period of dormancy to produce a “bloom budget.” This ‘budget’ determines how they’ll perform when it’s time to bloom the following season. Plants like forsythia, and trees like dogwood, only flower once a year so if they spend their budget now they won’t flower again this spring.

Fortunately, not all flowering plants are confused. But for the out-of-season bloomers, the main culprits in their discombobulation are warm soil and air temperatures. Warm soil temperature induces a plant to send out shoots. Those shoots send out foliage, or leaves, which the plants use to make their own food through photosynthesis. When the plant has enough energy, it will create more roots, shoots and flowers.

While we’ve gone into a cold snap this week, forecasts for Kentucky and the entire Ohio Valley for this winter show an average a 6° increase in temperature and precipitation at one inch below average, so the out of sync blooming isn’t likely to end any time soon. The best way to handle these out of season blooms is to keep watering your spring-flowering shrubs, like rhododendrons, azaleas, mountain laurels and camellias, until the first frost arrives. You’ll also want to continue maintaining your early bloomers as you would if they had bloomed in the spring.

This extra-warm weather doesn’t by itself kill off healthy plants. So don’t worry too much. While you’ll undoubtedly see some reduced flowering in some plants next year, they should pull through and rebound the following year.

Forsythia only bloom once a year

Get A Head Start On A Beautiful 2019 Landscape ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:17:25 GMT

Happy New Year! With the beginning of 2019 here upon us, it’s time to start preparing your landscape to look its best in the spring. While it is easy to hide away from the cold winter weather here in central Kentucky, be sure to spend some time in January and February knocking out some simple yard work- beyond taking down the decorations you put up for the holiday season.

Not sure where to start? Here are a few helpful suggestions:

January

Believe it or not, January usually has a few nice, sunny days that provide the perfect opportunity to work on your landscape. It is the ideal time to inspect flowering trees and shrubs for broken, diseased, or weak branches and carefully prune them out. It is also the ideal time to prune flowering trees for shape but be careful, pruning is a skill that takes years to learn! You can also trim your fruit-bearing plants to encourage new growth and fruit

There are a few things you can do in the flowerbed, too. We recommend gently turning the soil if the ground isn’t frozen or wet. This will expose any insect eggs and also can help break apart the dirt. You should reapply mulch around trees and shrubs to maintain a depth of 2 to 3 inches, and a bit more for newer or more sensitive plantings. Be sure not to pile mulch up against the trunk, though.

Now let’s talk about your lawn. Remove any leaves that blow into it, and make sure children don’t leave stray toys lying around. These can damage and even kill grass and ornamental plants.

Remember that planning ahead is a good idea if you want early spring installation, as landscape design professionals are swamped as soon as the weather starts to improve. Give me a call as early as you can to beat the crowd! Our number is 859-475-4500 .

February

Not only are local garden centers mostly empty in February, but they often have sales on plant material, tools and other items ahead of their spring rush. Make a trip to one in your area and see what treasures you can find.

Now is when you may begin springtime applications of crabgrass preventer and fertilizer, but we’d aim more towards the end of the month. You can often save money by purchasing the yearly treatment all at once for our Weed and Feed programs as well as our crab grass prevention programs.

Finally, one of the most important landscaping tips for all of winter is to remember to water your plants if there’s been no significant rain or snowfall. This is even more critical for any new plantings that haven’t had a chance to establish a root system.

If you don’t want to brave the elements or prefer to leave these tasks to the professionals, Mow-Mow’s Landscaping Professionals is just an email or phone call away. You can reach us at mowmows@yahoo.com or 859-475-4500 .

Preparing for Icy Conditions ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 09:09:50 GMT

In central Kentucky in the winter you can expect at least one hazardous coating of ice on your walkways. Shovels and snow blowers are no match for ice, so we generally tend to use ice melting products on walkways and driveways to keep our families safe from slips and falls. For many of us, ice melting products are part of the standard equipment for winter weather preparedness; but these chemicals can take a toll on your lawn and andscape plants. Proper use and a few follow up procedures can, however, minimize or eliminate the damage done to your landscape.

What Are Your Ice Melting Options

While there are lots of brands to choose from, they all contain substantially the same few ingredients. Some products are simply labeled ‘rock salt,’ but may contain other ingredients as well. It is always good to know what is in the bag. Here’s a list of the common ingredients in ice melting products and some of their characteristics.

Magnesium Chloride is environmentally friendly and safe for use around pets. It is effective to -13 degrees.
Sodium Chloride (rock salt) is very inexpensive and works extremely well to about 20 degrees. It is the product most likely to damage plants and pavement.
Potassium Chloride is environmentally friendly and safe for pets. It works to about 25 degrees but its use is becoming somewhat limited due to market demands for potassium.
Calcium Chloride works very fast and is effective to at least -25 degrees. It leaves a brine slush that dries slowly.
Calcium Magnesium Acetate (CMA) is environmentally friendly and works well to 20 degrees. It is primarily used in contractor settings like parking lots and streets.

All of the elements in these products are naturally occurring, pricing differences are are based on availability and or demand. Magnesium is damaging to concrete to a greater degree than non-magnesium products. Chloride products are all corrosive to some degree. Never apply ice melting products to wood (decks, etc.) or concrete that is less than a year old.

Preventing Damage

Following the package directions will help to minimize collateral damage to your landscape while using ice melting products. Chief among them are using the proper amount and spreading it evenly. Remove the snow first, you’ll want to limit the use of ice melting products to the final remnants. To apply ice melters, it’s best to use a calibrated hand held or walk behind spreader if you can. This will ensure proper, even coverage with limited waste. Don’t apply extra ice-melt for better traction, use kitty litter, coarse sand, perlite or some other gritty substance.

Avoid Too Much Salt

Rock salt is by far the leader in causing landscape damage. When dissolved in water, the sodium displaces the plants’ needed minerals in the soil, and the chloride is absorbed through plant roots and carried to the leaves to wreak havoc on its metabolic processes. Above ground, the salt’s drying effects work directly against plants’ abilities to withstand cold, dry winter conditions by damaging leaves and branches. On lawns, salt damage will be show itself in dead patches, usually in low areas where street or driveway water drains. Deciduous plants may have twig dieback or tan-brown leaf margins when the leaves emerge in spring.

Repairing Salt Damage

Even if you use a non-sodium ice melting product, runoff and spray from nearby roads can affect the landscape. The good news is that the effects can be reduced or repaired. When spring brings warmer weather, you can flush salt from your landscape foliage with water. When salt damage still appears, gypsum can help repair it – particularly on clay soils that don’t drain well – and works best if applied after core aeration. Gypsum dislodges the sodium, which allows the normal soil structure to be restored. You can generally find it in garden centers and home improvement stores, typically sold in bags like lime.

The Mow Mow’s family is here to help you prepare, prevent and repair if you’d rather leave it in the hands of professionals. Give us a call at 859-475-4500 .

Either way, be prepared this season and have a safe and warm winter.

It’s A Perfect Time Of Year To Give Some Attention To The ‘Hardscape’ In Your Garden ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 08:59:08 GMT

Winter is a great time to take care of some ‘hardscape’ maintenance. Now that most everything has died back for the winter, you can clean your garden beds out and inspect and repair the structural parts of your garden such as edging, fences and pathways.

First you’ll want to cut back any ornamental grasses and clear out any debris left behind by plants that have died back. Once that’s done, you’ll be able to easily find potential problems like bowing in your edging and rotting wood in raised beds. Taking care of these garden structures now will give you a head start once the last frost has passed and planting begins.

Inspect & Repair

Be sure to inspect all wooden structures like decks and tables for rot and stability, and make all necessary repairs. The occasional mild days in December are perfect for treating those wooden structures in the garden, such as sheds, fences, and trellis, with preservative.

Patios and paths can be scrubbed with a stiff broom or blasted with a pressure washer. If your patios and walkways are constructed with pavers, this is also a good time to inspect, repair or simply refresh the grout. If you’re using dry grout you can scatter it onto the stone and sweep it into the joints using a soft brush. You may, however, need to go back over the surface a few times until the joints have been adequately filled. This should be done every year or so. Cracks in concrete should also be repaired as they’re an open door for invasive weeds come spring.

Any perennial plant containers that stay outdoors all winter should to be raised up with pot feet or a couple of bricks so they don’t get waterlogged. It’s also not too late to plant up a window box or hanging basket with winter bedding.While we don’t have a large numbers of birds that overwinter here, those that do will really appreciate suet feeders. Nutrients like nectar, worms and seeded fruit are scarce this time of year, and suet also provides energy sources like fats and peanut butter.

If you love to get in the garden at the first sign of spring, now is the perfect time to order your seed catalogs; these are all available online, but it can be a lot more fun to pour over a paper version. You’ll also be able to take advantage of pre-order discounts which can be significant this time of year.

Winterize your trees to avoid winter hazards ~

Fri, 31 May 2019 08:47:49 GMT

Central Kentucky usually gets at least one of the worst types of winter storms a year, an ice storm. When everything is coated in ice, it’s can be hazardous just to walk out the front door, and driving is simply treacherous. Another, less considered ice storm hazard is the accumulation of ice on tree branches, causing falling trees and branches.

Unlike snow which normally doesn’t adhere to the branches and trunk of a tree, freezing ice will accumulate and can increase the weight of branches by as much as 30 times. This extra weight places severe stress on the tree. Falling trees and branches damage homes, property and even cause electrical outages when they take out power lines. Tree fall incidents in ice storms often could have been avoided if the tree’s weaknesses had been spotted ahead of time. Property owners rarely think to inspect their trees before winter – it’s just not top of mind unless you’ve experienced damage from fallen tree branches before.

There are several areas in which to look for tree weaknesses, but four of the most common causes are considered below:

Dead Branches

The most common danger of tree weakness is when a dead branch falls. It’s not a matter of if, but when. The longer it stays up in the tree, the more it weakens from decay. Any dead branch that is large enough to cause damage or harm, should be removed immediately.

Leaning Trees

Just because a tree is leaning, it isn’t necessarily at risk of falling if its tilt is not pronounced and if it’s always been that way. If the tilt of a tree is noticeably increasing, there’s no doubt it’s going to fall. If you’ve just noticed a leaning tree on your property, then having it’s roots inspected will give you a good indication of its stability. If the ground on the opposite side of the lean is cracked or raised up, it means that the tree is in the process of toppling over. The ground is beginning to give way to the leverage created by weight of the leaning tree.

Construction Near a Tree

Construction requiring digging in the root zone of a tree has in all likelihood severed the roots of the tree. In addition to a tree’s roots primary function of seeking nutrients to grow, they also serve as anchorage for the tree. When the roots of the tree are severed, there is and increased danger of the tree falling. As you might image, falling branches pose no where near the danger that an entire fallen tree does. If you’ve had construction done near a tree you should always consult a professional to proactively assess the damage to the tree’s roots.

Multiple Tree Trunks

A large tree with more than one trunk is a problem because the area where they join together tends to be weak. This is especially true when the trunks join in a V-shape. If one or more of these trunks are leaning outward at a severe angle, they are at risk of falling in an ice storm.

Just a thin coating of ice can result in a travel nightmare, while heavier amounts will severely damage trees and power lines. Strong winds can add extra force to already weighted down tree branches and power lines, increasing the likelihood of significant damage.

Be safe this winter, have a professional inspect your trees for the above weaknesses. If any trees look questionable, they can advise you on whether and how your tree can be repaired or removed. Preventing injury, property damage and an unnecessary home insurance claim are your top priorities.

Call 859-475-4500 Today to Receive 15% off any Tree Service through the end of January 2019. Or, if you prefer you can complete this form and we’ll contact you to arrange for a free consultation.

Gardening in December

Fri, 31 May 2019 08:37:09 GMT

Finding Peace In December Gardening ~

The holiday season brings both joy and stress. The joyful anticipation of family festivities and the stress of packed parking lots and hoards of shoppers. But – if you can find a moment to yourself – there’s peace to be found in gardening.

There are a surprising number of December tasks in the garden that will give you a head start on a lovely spring landscape.

The Last of the Leaves

Even if you’re certain you’ve raked the last leaf on your lawn, your neighbors may not have been so vigilant. High winds can actually keep leaves in the picture all winter. Leaves which pile up on the lawn can harm your grass, and wet leaves on walkways can be a safety hazard. One place you’ll want to leave them though is in your flower beds and under shrubs – there they decompose and act as mulch and over time turn in to compost.

Still Time for Bulbs

We addressed bulb planting in a recent article and as long as your beds aren’t frozen solid, there’s still time to get them in the ground. You can find them deeply discounted in the stores this time of year, and it’s the one place in the store you won’t be fighting crowds to get to something. Once in the ground, just cover with a 3- to 4-inch-thick layer of mulch to keep them warm while they settle in.

Bring in the Herbs

If you have an herb garden, there’s no reason to give up that supply of fresh herbs over the winter. Gently dig the herbs from your garden and transplant them into clay pots on a cool, bright windowsill. Take care not to over water them and you’ll be able to pinch off what you need all winter.

Keep Mulching

The mulch you put down earlier this year has probably turned mostly to compost by now. Adding more to your gardens now will help keep your tender perennials warm enough to come back strong in the spring.

Prune Perennials and Trim Trees

Pruning your perennials now will save time in the spring. Once the green is gone, your plant’s roots have already stocked up on the energy they need to weather the winter. Removing the brown and yellowed remains not only gives your garden a well kept look through winter, but the leaves and twigs you leave on the soil – under your mulch – are instant compost.

You don’t want to do any heavy pruning this time of year, but it’s important to remove any dead or diseased branches. Thick dead limbs become a hazard in the snow and ice. When either snow or ice pile up on a dead or weak limb, it’s likely to break off – becoming a dangerous overhead hazard. It’s not at all uncommon for these heavy dead limbs to damage cars and roofs, and can even land on an unfortunate passerby. Not being proactive in removing those hazardous limbs becomes a liability to you as the homeowner.

Edge Those Garden Beds

The tidy edging you enjoyed earlier in the year has most likely lost it’s crisp edge by now. Redefining those edges now will ensure that the job is done before the rainy season that hits soon after the cold snap has broken.

Seeding Winter Color

There are a surprising number of cool-season crops and flowers that actually thrive in winter. The easiest among them is lettuce – you can literally toss the seeds into flower bed snow drifts, and let nature do the rest for you. Sweet peas are another fun winter edible, while not as simple as throwing lettuce seeds into the snow, they’re not at all difficult push into the soil as long as it hasn’t frozen. When you crave a salad after all those heavy holiday meals all you need to do is walk out your door. For a little more color you can look to pansy, viola, bachelor’s buttons and several others.

Tackle Those Perennial Weeds

Perennial lawn and garden weeds never give up. If they’re in your landscape now they will still be there in spring. While they do survive, their root systems are weakened by the cold weather so it’s the perfect time to take advantage of that weakness. One trick to bringing the roots up with the weed is to use needle nose pliers. Push them down into the soil around the weed an inch or two, grasp the roots and pull. It won’t work every time, but it’s worth it when it does.

When it’s Time to Call in a Professional

If you love your lawn and gardens but working in them is not your idea of peaceful, call your landscaper. It’s especially wise to count on a professional where tree limbs are concerned. Some of the most dangerous limbs are high up in the tree, so it’s hard for you to tell when one is dead. A professional has both the experience and the equipment to get the job done right and safely.

Headed To Pick Out Your Christmas Tree Soon?

Fri, 31 May 2019 07:37:35 GMT

If you’re planning on a natural tree for Christmas this year, it’s always best to wait a while longer to put it up than you might an artificial tree. A freshly cut tree, kept well supplied with water, can last about a month, but it’s best to wait another week just to be sure your tree lasts into the new year.

Going out to cut your own tree can be a lot of fun and a great family tradition. There’s just something special about wandering through dozens of trees to find just the right one that every one in the family can agree on.

Tree Farms

Kentucky.com has a list of Kentucky tree farms by county here , where you can go to cut your own, or have one cut for you. These tree farms offer added touches to enhance the experience like free hot chocolate. Christmas are not all created equal – there are many tree varieties used as Christmas trees. While you are most likely to see fir and pine varieties here in the Bluegrass, Proflowers.com has a great list of 16 tree varieties , each of which has it’s own appeal.

If you’re buying a precut tree instead, you’ll want to be sure to ask when it was harvested. Many of the trees you find in big box store lots have traveled from all over the country, so it may have been as much as a month with no water. Look for a independent tree seller, and you’re likely to find trees locally sourced and fresh. When you buy local you’ll be supporting the local economy as well. Here are a few tips for success with your Christmas tree.

Test The Needles

Squeeze the needles to see if they’re still juicy and plump, as opposed to dried out and brittle. Bang the tree against the ground once or twice to see how many needles fall off (there shouldn’t be many if it’s still fresh). Look at the color – it should be bright a green, with no ashy color.

Expose The Trunk

Cut off the bottom inch or more of the trunk. The cut end of the trunk has ‘healed over’ and won’t be able to absorb water like it needs to. Much like cutting the stems off the end of a bouquet, exposing a surface that can keep your tree hydrated longer.

Let It Rest

While you’re likely eager to get the tree up and begin the decoration fun, but try to hold the kids at bay to let it relax first. Let the tree rest for a few hours or overnight to dry off, settle, and let the bugs escape before setting it up

Bag it Up

All Christmas trees will begin to lose needles as they dry out, but fir, spruce, and cypress generally keep their needles longer than pines. Regardless of which you choose, it’s always a good idea to get a tree bag to put under it to make moving the tree out less messy.

Fresh cut or precut, mantle size or ceiling scraper, the delicious fragrance of a natural tree brings instant Christmas cheer. However you choose to celebrate the holidays, we wish you and yours the very best of the season and a Happy New Year.

Not Looking Forward To Climbing On The Roof To Hang Lights? Let Mow Mow’s Handle It For You. Call 859-475-4500 Today And Get $20 Off All Holiday Decorating.