Even though we're still in winter, now is the time to be thinking about how you will care for your yard this spring. There are several things you can easily take care of yourself, however, it can be beneficial to have a team of professionals take on the work so you know everything is being tended to in the right way and at the right times.

A professional landscape maintenance company can help you with:

• Thinning out and trimming back overgrowth
  Taking time to thin out your shrubs and trees can help promote healthy growth, as well as shape growth to stay within your desired bounds. Trimming back overgrowth can also help promote healthy growth and prevent the proliferation of pests. Staying on top of trimming your plants is especially helpful for plant growth that takes off quickly with the first bit of sun and warmth.
  
  
• Fertilizing your lawn and planter beds
  Knowing when and where to apply fertilizer for your lawn and planter beds can make the difference between a ho-hum landscape and an eye-catching display. If you want lush greens and big, beautiful blooms, make sure your yard is receiving the proper fertilization in preparation for spring.
  
  
• Mowing your lawn to season-appropriate heights
  Lawns should be mowed almost year-round but one of the differences between a healthy and damaged lawn is making sure your grass is cut at the appropriate height for each season. A landscape maintenance professional is knowledgable in what is best for your type of grass (cool-weather vs. warm-weather varieties, etc.) and the seasonal precipitation for your area.
  
  
• Pest prevention and corrective treatments
  Identifying and properly treating pest damage right away can make the difference of a quick fix or a season-long restoration for your lawn and/or plants. Prevention is even better. Having a landscape professional with an eye for identifying damage early on as well as knowing common pests for your area can help minimize damage and expense.
  
  
• Pruning of your trees and shrubs
  If you're unsure of how and when to prune back your trees and shrubs, a landscape maintenance professional can help. One of the easiest ways to damage or stunt the growth of your plantings is by pruning too much, pruning the wrong branches, or pruning at the wrong time of year. Improper pruning can also lead to disease susceptibility and rot. Having professional care for your plants can help prevent costly and unsightly damage.
  
  
• Moss removal
  Mossy walkways or pavers combined with morning dew or a light frost can add up to a dangerous slip and fall accident waiting to happen. Your professional landscape maintenance team can help keep you safe with regular moss removal and abatement. Not only do they have the tools to manage moss more effectively, but they also have the treatments to help prevent unwanted future growth.

If all of this sounds like a lot of work, or simply more than you care to do yourself, please give us a call at 541-729-8029 or email us. Our team of maintenance experts would be happy to help you prepare your yard for spring's beauty.

If you've followed our blog for a while you probably know we're big fans of mulch. And if you don't have mulch in your yard, now is the perfect time to get some down before the cold of winter really sets in. There are many reasons for why mulch is great, including the fact that it helps protect your plant beddings, any newly planted bulbs, shallow root plants, and young trees.

Mulch comes in a variety of colors and textures so you're likely to find one that meets your preferences. You can get deep browns, warm reds, and soft golden tones in both coarse and fine blends. If you're not sure which one is right for your yard, let our experts help.

Here are five reasons why you should add mulch to your yard:

1. Mulch helps to control weeds
   Mulch can limit the amount of weeds that spring up in the open spaces of your garden. It acts as a barrier, limiting the amount of sunlight that can find its way to the weeds.
   
   
2. Mulch helps prevent soil erosion
   Mulching not only keeps existing water trapped in the soil, it also keeps rain water from washing away your soil. In our rainy neck of the woods, this is really important. Mulch does this by breaking the fall of the water and therefore lessening the force when the water impacts the ground.
   
   
3. Mulch helps provide insulation
   Mulch also acts as a thermal blanket over your planted areas, providing an extra layer of protection from extremely cold temperatures.
   
   
4. Mulch helps maintain soil nutrients
   Not only does mulch keep soil nutrients from being washed away with the rain, it also can release nutrients into the soil if you are using an organic material. This happens as the organic material slowly decomposes on top of the soil.
   
   
5. Mulch helps control pests
   Using certain types of mulch, such as cedar bark, can deter some pests due to the fact that the cedar bark has natural oils that act as insect repellant. To reap the full benefits, be sure to find a mulch that is very fragrant, as it will have the greatest effect on insects.

As a general rule of thumb, it is best to lay down mulch somewhere between 2-4" deep, and you'll want to avoid touching trunks of trees or stems of plants so you don't get any rot or disease issues.

Now is the perfect time to have our team help get your yard winter ready. Give us a call today at 541-729-8029.

Even with careful maintenance, bare spots can still rear their ugly heads in your lawn. If unfamiliar with what to do, bare spots can quickly spread and become costly lawn repairs.

Before beginning any lawn repairs, you need to first determine the source of your problem. Bare spots in your lawn can be the result of heavy foot traffic, drought (or in other words, a lack of watering), disease, chemical burn, and even weed or insect infestation. Determining the cause for your lawn's bare spots will help you in planning a corrective course of action and help you prevent it from continuing.

If heavy foot traffic is the cause for your lawn's bare spots, look for a way to keep traffic off of that area. A nice, long-term solution includes modifying your landscape with the addition of stepping stones, a gravel pathway or a barrier that would reroute traffic and protect that area of your lawn.

If a lack of water is the issue, consulting an irrigation specialist could be helpful. After analysis of your irrigation system, a professional can make recommendations for system adjustments so that all areas of your yard are adequately watered.

If insects or disease are the cause, determine the specific cause. Consulting with a landscape maintenance professional can help with identification and they can make suggestions for the most effective treatment. Most treatments will need to be applied and allowed to work before you can grow new grass. The treatment product instructions will tell you how long to wait before sowing new seed.

The team at Graham Landscape & Design has tremendous experience in remedying a variety of landscape blights, including bare spots, so that you can have a beautiful lawn. If you live in the Eugene-Springfield, Oregon area, give us a call today to get a free evaluation and estimate. 541-729-8029

Beyond natural slug treatments, did you know the design of your yard, along with the materials and features used can also help deter the presence of these pests? Here are some great tips to help manage slugs through smart design.

• For pathways, consider using sharp and pointy gravel, which can injure the soft underbelly of slugs.
• For mulch, avoid using straw and leaves during the wet times of the year. Slugs love the moist, dark environment of almost every kind of mulch and love to crawl right through it to hide and lay eggs. If you use mulch, try adjusting your application to the dryer part of the growing season, when slugs are less active.
• If you like to use raised garden beds, add copper fencing to make it harder for slugs to access your plants.
• If you're not afraid of harmless, helpful critters, you can keep a pile of rocks at the edge of your garden to encourage garden snakes. And a compost pile will encourage beetles, which also prey on slugs.
• As soon as temperatures allow, remove protective ground covers. Anything that sits on top of the ground becomes a place for slugs to hide and multiply.
• You can build a berm around the perimeter of your garden about three inches wide which can serve as a place to sprinkle a line of eggshells and diatomaceous earth. These act as a natural barrier, keeping slugs away from your plants.
• With regard to irrigation, your best bet is to water at the base of plants, using drip irrigation, and maintaining well-drained soil. Space plants well away from each other also helps.
• If you've ever considered a water feature for your yard, here's one more reason why they're great. An irrigation pond next to your garden will encourage frogs or provide a home for ducks, or both, who will be some of the most effective slug predators.
• Potatoes, peas, beans, and celery are all particularly delicious to slugs. If you are going to spend time individually wrapping plants with copper, this is where to focus your energies. Watch this.
• Many aromatic herbs repel slugs, such as rosemary. These both look and smell good!
• Marigolds and Black-eyed Susan are also beautiful and help deter slugs when bordering gardens.
• Other plants are resistant or less affected by slugs. These include astilbe, campanula, lobelia, phlox, ranunculus, and viola.

If you'd like help in designing a garden that's slug-unfriendly, let us know. We can help. Give our team a call today at 541-729-8029.

Slugs are in every garden and cause more damage than most other invaders. Commercial slug killers are available, but they can be toxic to birds and other wildlife and tend to be less effective after it rains which is when slugs are the most active. So, what can you do? Here are a few tips for how you can tackle the slugs in your garden, naturally.

Copper
Small strips of copper can be placed around flowerpots or raised beds as obstructions for slugs to crawl over. Cut 2″ strips of thin copper and wrap around the lower part of flower pots, like a ribbon. Or set the strips in the soil on edge, making a “fence” for the slugs to climb. Check to make sure no vegetation hangs over the copper, which might provide a ‘bridge’ for the slugs. Copper barriers also work well around wood barrels used as planters.

Lava Rock
Like diatomaceous earth, slugs will avoid the abrasive surface of lava rock. Lava rock can be used as a barrier around plantings but should be left mostly above soil level. Otherwise, dirt or vegetation soon forms a bridge for slugs to cross.

Beetles
Rove beetles are very good at eating slug eggs and baby slugs. You can encourage these beetles by creating homes for them by turning a plastic box upside down over a pile of straw with a small pile of rocks inside to hide in or a pile of rocks under some overhanging plants.

Seaweed
If you have access to seaweed, it’s well worth the effort to gather some. Seaweed is a good soil amendment for the garden and a natural repellent for slugs. Mulch with seaweed around the base of plants or perimeter of planter bed. Pile it on 3″ to 4″ thick – when it dries, it will shrink to just an inch or so deep. Seaweed is salty, and slugs avoid salt. Push the seaweed away from plant stems, so it’s not in direct contact. During hot weather, seaweed will dry and become very rough which also deters the slugs.

Beer
Slugs are attracted to beer. Set a small amount of beer in a wide shallow jar buried in the soil up to its neck. Slugs will crawl in and drown. Take the jar lid and prop it up with a small stick so rain won’t dilute the beer. Leave space for slugs to enter the trap.

Watering Schedule
Far and away the best course of action against slugs in your garden is a simple adjustment in the watering schedule. Slugs are most active at night and are most efficient in damp conditions. Avoid watering your garden in the evening if you have a slug problem. Water in the morning – the surface soil will be dry by evening. Studies show this can reduce slug damage by 80%.

If you suffer from slugs destroying the plants in your yard or garden, we can help. Our skilled maintenance team can work with you on a plan for preserving your plants and managing pests. Give us a call today: 541-729-8029

Weeds. They are the bain of every beautiful lawn and flowerbed. You know what we're talking about. You spend a great deal of time to plan, plant, and cultivate a beautiful yard and then BAM! You spot weeds. Never just one, but little clusters here and there. They're everywhere! So, what are you going to do?

Tips for dealing with weeds in your yard:

1. Don't pull them up! At least not when it's been dry. When you pull up weeds, you risk sprinkling all of their seeds back into your lawn or planted area, creating a breeding ground for the next round of weeds. If you really can't resist the urge to pull weeds, the best time to do so is when everything is wet. For one, the soil will be softer, and you can get the root out with the weed. And second, you limit the likelihood that the weed will release its seeds.
2. Mulch! This is best for your planted areas as mulch is a natural weed barrier. And, as a bonus, a fresh layer of mulch gives your yard added visual appeal.
3. Remove their tops. With annual weeds, deadheading them can earn you some extra time before they release their seeds. Lopping off the tops also reduces any reseeding, and this action forces weeds to use up their food sources which results in limiting their spread.
4. Use selective watering. Weeds have the same requirements as other plants: a good place to grow and lots of water. So, if you selectively water the plants you want and not the weeds, they'll reduce in number and size. What's the best way to accomplish this? With drip irrigation. Drip irrigation helps control weeds, and it saves you money on your water bill.
5. Plan for the gaps in your planted areas. If you plant specimens close together (per guidelines for each plant), you reduce the space available for weeds to grow. In essence, you choke them out so they can't get light, food, or water.

While these tips can help manage the weed situation in your yard, know that despite your best efforts, the weeds will keep coming back. Weed control is just that — control, not eliminate. Keeping weeds at bay requires ongoing monitoring and treatment. If that level of commitment or use of time sounds unappealing, consider hiring a landscaper who offers maintenance services. Together, you can discuss the priorities for your yard, how and when you want services, and come to an agreement that works for your budget.

​If you live in the Eugene-Springfield area, Graham Landscape & Design can help control the weeds in your lawn, and so much more. Please give us a call for a no-obligation quote today. 541-729-8029.

It's happened to the best of us... We work hard to fertilize and maintain the perfect lawn but then it happens... a brown spot or two. How could this be? We did everything right! Well, eventually, no matter how diligent you are, you're bound to experience a lawn pest or two. Here are some common lawn pests in the Pacific Northwest and what you can do to get rid of them.

Crane Fly
In the Pacific Northwest, there are many native crane flies and they serve as decomposers in our streams and forests. However, they are also known for wreaking havoc on our lawns. It's the larvae, also known as leather jackets, that feed on the roots of plants, mainly turf grass, and cause the most damage.

​During the summer months, the adult crane flies emerge, mate, and deposit their eggs. Unfortunately, because of their abundance, it isn't practical to try to kill them at this point in the year. You're better off treating the problem in the spring (typically March-April) if the lawn doesn't recover over the winter. You'll know you need to do something if you dig out a patch of lawn 12 inches square and count more than 25-30 larvae. You can use beneficial nematodes (microscopic worms) or insecticides, available at lawn and garden stores.

Slugs
Every garden has slugs, and they can cause more damage than most garden invaders. Like the crane fliers, slugs help with decomposition and are beneficial in creating mulch, however, when they choose to chomp on your hostas, hydrangeas, etc., they're not so loved.

While there are several pesticide choices at your local lawn and garden store, we recommend a more natural approach. Here are a few that are fairly easy to implement.

1. Reduce or eliminate your watering at night. Slugs love dark, moist environments. If you eliminate your evening watering cycle, you take away the environment they love most. This is a great way to rid your garden of the majority of slugs.
2. Sprinkle hazelnut shells around your plantings. The shells have a sharp edge when cracked which keeps the slugs from wanting to crawl over them. You can also use cracked egg shells but we find the hazelnut shells blend in better with your garden.
3. Create borders around your plants with lava rock. Just like the hazelnut shells, the lava rocks have a rough surface which slugs will avoid at all cost. Make sure you leave these mostly above soil so dirt and other debris doesn't create a bridge upon which the slugs can cross.

If you find you're dealing with more lawn pests than you know what to do with, please give the Graham Landscape & Design Maintenance Crew a call. We can come out, assess your situation, and provide the necessary treatments to get your yard back into shape. 541-729-8029