Landscape Maintenance

Winter

January is the time to cut back perennials and remove spent leaves and stems. In February, you should begin pruning those shrubs that aren’t early spring bloomers (you don’t want to run the risk of cutting off early blooms). Late winter is a great time to prune trees and shrubs, because you can clearly see the tree branches and any adjustments that may be needed.

Winter is also time to preemptively combat that first flush of spring weeds we all know is coming. For tall fescue lawn areas, you should apply one application of pre-emergent herbicide. For flower and vegetable beds, you should cut new bed lines and add mulch. Mulching will also protect roots from desiccation during dry winter months.

Fertilization is an essential part of landscape care, and you should begin thinking about it in winter. In late February/early March, it’s wise to get a soil test to determine which fertilizer should be applied during the growing season.

Spring

At the beginning of spring, it’s important to pay attention to the weather. If there are still winter conditions, you should wait on the first application of fertilizer. In March (or April) you will want to fertilize trees, shrubs, perennials and your lawn.

In May, you should put a second application of pre-emergent weed control down on your lawn, depending on which weeds you’ve had problems with in the past.

Summer

In June and July, you’ll want to cut back certain perennials to extend their bloom time. Shrubs should be deadheaded when they’re done flowering; this redirects energy used to produce seeds into stems and foliage. Weeds are of special concern during the summer. Post emergent weed control in lawn areas is very important during this time, as is weeding and spot spraying weeds in plant beds.

Fall

Fall is an active time for maintenance. It’s a great time to fertilize, and to plant new trees and shrubs. Fall is also the time to aerate and over-seed your lawn. Tall fescue – the grass most commonly used in western North Carolina – is a cool-weather grass. It’s best to seed in the fall, so that the grass has time to take root and become established well before the stress of the hot summer months. Fall is also the time to do lawn care and leaf cleanup. It’s important that your grass is clear so that sunlight can reach it, as grass needs sunlight in order to photosynthesize and store energy for winter.

Caring for a landscape is all about nurturing and maintaining each and every component, from the soil to the flowers, to the trees. Even the hardscapes need continuous attention. After all, they’re the framework that supports the entire structure.

Asheville landscape maintenance is an involved process that requires time, effort and a wealth of specialized knowledge. It’s best to put yourself in the hands of professionals you trust, to ensure that you have the outdoor space of your dreams. Gardens for Living has been caring for landscapes for generations. We take a holistic approach to our work, and nothing makes us happier than to continuously care for a garden we have installed. And nothing will be better for your outdoor space than to be cared for by the experts who know it best.

Estate Maintenance

• Weed control
• Early season cleanup
• Properly timed pruning of trees, perennials, and shrubs
• Edging plant beds
• Wooded area cleanup
• Invasive plants species removal and management
• Integrated pest management
• Annual mulching of plant beds
• Fertilizing trees shrubs and perennials
• Applying pre-emergent to turf areas
• Fertilizing turf areas
• Leaf cleanup and removal
• Aerating and overseeding turf

• Annual color
• Plant bed refreshes
• Mowing turf areas
• Blowing off driveways
• General cleanup
• Special occasion cleanup
• Container plantings
• Deadheading
• Water feature system maintenance
• Irrigation system maintenance
• Outdoor Lighting maintenance
• Rainwater harvesting system maintenance
• Backflow assembly testing