|
Camellias: the Beautiful Winter Bloomer
Camellias are fair sized evergreens that are known for their large, luxurious flowers. Camellias are great additions to any garden as a way to keep your landscape colorful through the winter. The colors on the various types of Camellias range from white to pink to dark red. To properly plant a camellia you need to choose a site where the soil is well-drained. They can be planted anytime from late fall to the first signs of spring. Camellias compete for nutrients with trees that have shallow root systems so be sure not to plant them too close to each other. The highlight of the Camellia plant is they bloom from the fall through the winter, when not many other flowers bloom. This is why they are so popular with gardeners, because they are one of the ways to add bright color during the winter months.
Landscape Associates can help you choose the perfect place for your Camellia and plant it for you. Call us today to add color to your winter garden.
Don’t forget….!
Take care of those leaves! Cleaning up fall leaves can be an enormous hassle, but it doesn’t need to be as difficult as it appears. The reason the task is daunting is because of the sheer size of some yards, but there is an easy way around that. To save time simply drag out a large tarp and cover as much lawn as possible with it and then rake the leaves onto the tarp. After you are finished the tarp can be folded or rolled up as a quick alternative to raking every leaf into a center pile.
Call LAI to help finish up your fall lawn maintenance needs!
Everyone’s Favorite! Sugar Cookies!
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 cup butter, softened
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a small bowl, stir together flour, baking soda and baking powder. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in egg and vanilla. Gradually blend in the dry ingredients. Roll rounded teaspoonsfuls of dough into balls, place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 8-10 minutes or until golden. Let stand on cookie sheets two minutes before removing to cookie racks to cool.
For variation, chill dough for an hour in the refrigerator. Roll to 1/4″ then cut out cookie shapes using decorative cookie cutters. Place on ungreased cookie sheet and decorate with sprinkles or colored suger. Bake 8-10 minutes. Let cool as described above.
|
Pest of the Month: Aphids
Aphids are small destructive insects that feed on the sap of tender plants and leaves. They particularly enjoy tender new growth and buds of the early spring plants. Aphids can destroy entire gardens and some species can carry up to 110 viruses that can be passed on to the plants they feast upon. They are difficult to eradicate because many species of aphids reproduce asexually. Many aphids prefer the undersides of leaves so be sure to check the backs often. Check in different parts of the plant as well. Ladybugs and ants are natural enemies of aphids. A strong ladybug population will help control aphids in your landscape.
Landscape Associates has the tools and products to control aphids and other garden pests. Call us today.
Helleborus: A Winter Gift for Your Garden
Helleborus plants are beautiful winter blooming plants that are extremely frost resistant and are cherished by gardeners. The Christmas rose strand is sought out and planted for their pure white flowers which bloom in the dead of winter and will switch colors as they age to a light pink. The majority of helleborus plants prefer to be planted in direct shade in soil that has an overabundance of organic matter mixed in. The best time of the year to plant helleborus is in October, although depending on the climate they are resilient enough to be planted in other months as well. The plant will eventually grow into large, impressive clumps so it is best to dig up the soil in its entirety, refilling the bed with organic matter so that it will not need to be redone later when they have grown in.
Landscape Associates designers are on call and ready to start now to help you plan your spring and summer landscape.
Landscape Tip of the Month
Properly Lighting your Trees for the Holidays
Whether you’re decorating your indoor tree or stringing lights up around the trees on your property, here is one tip to keep in mind. Start at the base of the tree in the center and string the lights straight up to the top, wrapping them around branches to keep them in place. Once at the top work your way down and out, draping the lights back and forth so they fill up the entire tree. This method will guarantee that by the time you hit the bottom there won’t be a single area without light.
|
