April Showers- Few and Far Between

Because Spring came so early this year, we are seeing many of the May flowers in bloom-- but without benefit of many April Showers. The Rainfall Scorecard for Atlanta posted by the National Weather Service Forecast Office is an interesting comparison (at least interesting to horticultural geeks like the Crabapple LandscapExperts team). It compares the monthly rainfall for the past years (since 1996).  In this case, for the months December 2010 to mid-April 2011 we had a rainfall of  25.04 inches V.S. this year's December 2011 to mid-April 2012 with a rainfall total of only 12.51 inches, shows that we are lagging behind at only 51% of last year's winter rains. 


The rains that arrived last night and today will help to moisten parched soils around Atlanta.

Implications 

What does this mean for the landscapes that Crabapple maintains for our property managers and HOA reps? 

• First, less moisture means reduced incidence of fungus problems on dogwoods and lawns; a good thing. 
• But second, Atlanta's trees and shrubs may be suffering. Trees drink deeply and depend on replenished moisture levels through the winter to survive our typically dry summers. Plus, our trees won't show the ill effects of drought until it is too late to do anything about it. The saying is "trees take seven years to die". But we won't let it come to that! 

Your LandscapExperts will help you evaluate the stress on your shade trees and may recommend irrigation for impossible-to-replace mature trees during times of prolonged drought. Solutions such as trickle irrigation or once-a-week deep watering may be indicated. Call your LandscapExperts Rep at 770-740-9737 to discuss your landscape needs. 

photo credits: thanks to Seasons Magic and Holly Sasnet

Keeping Sidewalks and Walkways Safe

Sidewalks provide safety for pedestrians by separating cars and those walking or jogging. Well-designed, safe places for people to walk are important in the public sector, as well as in condo communities, apartment complexes, subdivisions, townhome neighborhoods, outdoor malls, businesses, industrial companies;  essentially along all public and private rights-of-way. 

Circulation is the main purpose of sidewalks. They are intended and designed as an efficient way to get people from one point to another on foot. Providing safe pathways where people may walk is an essential responsibility of property owners, and Crabapple LandscapExperts is here to help keep your residents and customers safe.

Ask for a walkway audit by the LandscapExpert Team for commercial, residential and industrial clients in order to identify high risk areas for trip, slip or fall incidents and then have us eliminate any hazards.

Sidewalks must comply with Federal Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) guidelines, including ramp accessibility and surface smoothness. The ADA defines a “trip hazard” as any vertical change of ¼ inch or more at any joint or crack. Since ADA demands strict compliance, trip hazards represent a legal liability for our clients. Owners, managers and Crabapple LandscapExperts are all concerned that the sidewalks be safe.  

Tree roots can cause sidewalk upheaval  

Unpaved pathways set off from the road may have exposed roots

“Cut-throughs” and side paths may have eroded gullies that catch rainwater.

Shoulders may not be wide enough to walk, to change a tire or fix a bike, or may need a guard rail

Sidewalks and paths may need additional lighting to provide safety, or may be in need of shrub pruning

Stepping stones may need to be leveled

Let your Crabapple LandscapExperts help you increase the safety level of the properties you manage by giving us a call at 770-740-9739. 

We Don’t Guess, We Soil Test

 To understand more about the nutrient levels in the soils of the properties we care for, Crabapple LandscapExperts do routine, periodic soil tests. We see a vast improvement to the health of plants in your landscapes when we factor in the type of plants in each specific area and the levels of nutrients available, provided by scientific testing.

Reasons to test the soil:

High nutrient levels /too much fertilizer in the past can cause 

• too rapid growth 
• waste of money  
• harm the environment

Low nutrient levels./too little fertilizer in the past results in 

• poor or slow growth 
• yellowing or discoloration of plants
• bare patches 

Crabapple maintains nutrition levels by using the right kind and right amount of fertilizer, compost and organic matter to add to optimize growth and create a thriving plant population with terrific curb appeal.

In the case of a specialty flower bed, raised bed or a pet veggie plot, homeowners and  community gardeners may wish to test the soil themselves. Either phone Crabapple or follow these instructions

• Watch the how-to video on YouTube by Walter Reeves 
• Locate your county extension office on this searchablemap for GA CES 
• Obtain a postage-paid UGA Sample Kit(s) for $15 each
• Take multiple small samples from all over the area as shown in the video, mix them together, then put about a pound of the uniform mixture in the sample bag 
• mail to the soil testing labs in Athens or take it to your local county extension office
• follow the recommendations when the lab report comes back

Crabapple does all this for you, so be assured that the soils and plants on the properties you manage are getting the best care in metro-Atlanta.

2012 Year of the Missing Winter + Coping with an Early Spring

Do you recall? Back on Feb. 2 groundhog General Beauregard Lee predicted and early spring. He was right on target. 

This year it seems that winter forgot to put in an appearance. Mild Fall temperatures blended into Spring and the whole season is so early that it is throwing metro-Atlanta landscapes off a little. Now is a great time to phone your Crabapple LandscapExpert Rep to discuss major league spring training of the properties you manage.  

• There was no snowfall this year and only 3 nights in the 20s or teens 
• Planting and transplanting trees and shrubs continued every month (October, November, December, January, February, March) 
• Daffodil bulbs planted as late as the end of January grew great roots quickly and are already blooming
• Now all the flowers are blooming at once and overlapping their seasons. Camellias at the same times as roses; daffodils and dahlias, flowering cherries and summer annuals all at once
• Likewise, pines, hardwoods and flowering trees, along with pollen from grasses, are all coming into bloom at once, creating a perfect storm for pollen sufferers.
• Weeds got an early start in turf and landscape beds (and some never died off from last fall)
• Fungus and mold growth got a good start in the warm, rainy winter
• Insects wintered over more easily so populations are bigger than normal
• Winter pruning is blending into spring (crape myrtles, grasses, groundcovers)
• Turf scalping is already in demand
• Fertilization to strengthen new growth is early
• Pre-emergent and post-emergent herbicides are suggested for lawns and plant beds all at once
• Additional pesticide treatments may be advisable for ornamental shrubs and trees
• In some instances irrigation is already needed, and systems will need to be checked and turned on properly  

We are rolling up our sleeves to provide our clients with the best landscape maintenance services available. Your Crabapple LandscapExperts are here to advise you and recommend the landscape maintenance services are needed to keep the landscape looking great! 

Curb Appeal: Crabapple Earns an A+ from Atlanta BBB

 Property managers and Homeowners Association Reps have a great lawncare option with Crabapple LandscapExperts serving all of metro-Atlanta. Crabapple has been in business 20 years and has earned an A+ on a scale of A+ to F from the Atlanta Better Business Bureau for our professional landscape services. Before hiring a firm to straighten out edging or prune trees, become an educated consumer by consulting with a Crabapple Rep to determine what services will best highlight the properties you manage, rendering them more attractive and boosting your curb appeal.

Choosing The Best Landscape Services 

Some lawn maintenance companies just mow the lawn, while others specialize in beautiful seasonal color beds, installation of ornamental shrubs or tree pruning. Crabapple LandscapExperts does all that and much more.

First, each property under our care is evaluated and then provided with a tailor-made plan.  

• Crabapple offers basic packages of year-round maintenance that include turf mowing, fertilizing, trimming, edging and weed control of any variety of lawn that grows in metro-Atlanta. Our lawn care Techs can even use varied mowing patterns to draw attention to a focal point of your choice. 
• Our Seasonal Color Team plants brilliantly colorful annuals to accent your properties. 
• Crabapple enlists highly trained Arborists to help with your questions and who can repair, restore to health, or remove challenging trees. 
• Irrigation is an important aspect of our maintenance, and our Irrigation Specialists keep your system in top shape, trouble free and delivering the optimum amount of water during dry periods. 
• While lawn maintenance is a relatively simple science, outdoor pest and disease control requires more skill and certification by our LandscapExperts Team. 
• Naturally, seasonal clean-up and mulching services are available. Crabapple recycles all green materials in our composting facility at HQ.
• A drainage plan for your properties, erosion control and maintenance of water detention ponds, along with waterfowl disbursement is yet another aspect of Crabapple’s services.  

 Checklist for Prospective Property Managers or HOAs
Interviewing the property manager and understanding their goals, along with an evaluation of the needs of the particular lawn, trees, woody ornamentals and flowering plants on the property, helps us to know what options to suggest. A few of the questions in our evaluation of prospective properties include: 

• Type of Turf? 
• Factors that influence when and how often to provide mowing, mulching, fertilizing and pruning? 
• Integrated Pest Management Services to determine whether cultural controls or a pesticide is needed 
• Preferred types of weed control? Georgia certified pest controls are safe for children and pets.

Our LandscapExperts Team is insured, licensed and bonded to set your mind at ease, and our 20 years of award-winning performance and credentials make Crabapple the best property care option in metro-Atlanta.

What is the Best Cutting Height for Fescue Turf?

Fescue lawns are one of the most popular grass types in metro-Atlanta, due to the ease of establishment (by seed or sod) and especially due to its bright green color throughout winter when warm-season turfs are dormant and tan. Late winter and spring is often the most beautiful time of year for the well-cared for fescue lawns owned by Crabapple’s clients.  

Old-fashioned perennial bunch-type fescue grows rapidly during spring and fall, and due to its clumping style of growth, may require pre-emergent herbicide to stop weeds. Newer turf-type hard fescues developed and monitored by researchers at UGA and other land grant colleges are:

• more carpet-like, 
• improved disease resistance, 
• improved shade, heat and drought tolerance, 
• handsome dark medium green color. 

This season’s green lawns set off to perfection the brilliant pansies and snapdragons now blooming in adjacent flower beds

.

Late winter and spring mowing by CrabappleLandscapExperts is carefully calibrated to insure that the green top growth balances the hidden roots of the grass. We use rotary mowers with sharp blades to cleanly slice through the grass leaves without tearing. We mow the properties you manage often enough so that we never stress the lawn by scalping, removing only 1/3 of the length of the grass leaf at a time. The LandscapExperts know that mowing too low can cause fescue grass to thin out. At the same time, we inspect lawns under our care, checking for changes in color, health and density.  

Because Atlanta is near the southernmost limit for fescue, this type of turf can become stressed if mowed incorrectly, so it’s good to rely on our expertise. Two to three inches of height (depending on physical and climate conditions) creates an even-textured finish and a smooth, velvety surface that sets off landscapes and architecture while hiding uneven grading. To discuss your lawn with a CrabappleLandscapExpert, phone 770-740-9739. 


Photo Credit Brian Cross and Mooseys Country Garden

Leaves of Grass: Fertilizing Fescue Lawns

Leaves of Grass: Benefits of a Beautiful Green Lawn

A green lawn is a valuable asset to any landscape, framing the architecture and providing a restful green oasis for inhabitants. Landscape plantings, including lawn areas around homes and workplaces, have a positive impact on inhabitants. A healthy, maintained lawn area creates an inviting view for passers-by and provides a pleasing, natural backdrop for other landscape elements.

Even the uniform lawn surface provides a sense of coherence and harmony to the entire landscape scene. This peaceful setting contributes to a feeling of well being and a decrease in emotional tension

Did you know? Restful green lawn areas can reduce:

+ noise levels

+ hot summer temperatures (evapo-transpiration of moisture through the leaves)

+ Carbon dioxide (while increasing Oxygen levels)

+ air conditioning costs

+ glare and light reflection

+ particulate pollution in the air  

Of the two major categories of turf available in Georgia (warm season and cool season) Fescue grass is a cool season grass that remains green all year and looks best in the fall, winter and spring. Fescue becomes stressed during hot weather. Crabapple LandscapExperts maintain a detailed calendar to ensure that our clients with Fescue lawns receive the best possible service precisely when needed.  Best practices include an application of fertilizer in early Spring (February or March) that continues Fescue’s strong growth up to the hot days of summer. 

Crabapple LandscapExperts recommend improved turf-type Fescue varieties with finer blades and deeper, more vigorous root systems. As a rule, they are more disease and drought resistant, tolerating shade and temperature extremes better than some of the older Fescue varieties.

We carefully select fertilizer to best enhance foliar growth, creating a strong, lush, green Fescue lawn. The LandscapExperts determine the amount of fertilizer by careful soil testing. When indicated, lime is added on a late summer schedule to balance the acid/basic soil reaction and make sure the Fescue turf efficiently uses recommended fertilizer. 

Photo credits Crabapple LandscapExperts and CAES.UGA.edu