landscape maintenance

When to Add Fresh Soil to Plant Beds

There will come a time when individuals will need to add fresh soil to their plant beds. Every plant bed can benefit from the addition of fresh soil, particularly in the form of compost. A mixture of 10 percent potting soil, 30 percent compost and 60 percent topsoil can be purchased and is equally beneficial. The exception to that mix is plants such as succulents that require specialized soil mediums.

One way to identify if it’s time to amend the soil in beds is to observe the condition of the previous year’s plants. If they were underperforming in regard to blooms, appeared weak, or had roots showing its time to add some soil. It’s a good idea to add fresh soil every couple of years.

A certain amount of soil will be displaced, such as when plants are removed at the end of their productive season, and will need to be replaced. Soil will also be compacted through rain, watering and other factors.

The nutrients in soil become depleted over time and simply adding fertilizer won’t work forever. Whether individuals are raising their plants in raised beds or directly in the ground, the addition of new soil provides a fresh infusion of nutrients and enriches the soil for lusher growth, better blooms, and a greater yield for vegetable plants.

The best time to incorporate fresh soil in an empty bed is during the spring before any plants are placed in the ground or in the autumn in preparation for the following planting season. For those that have existing beds of perennials, the plants can be dug up and the fresh dirt worked into the soil before quickly interring the plants again. The plants will require a period of adjustment as they reset their roots.

Conversely, soil can be amended in stages. Each time a new plant goes in the ground, add a handful of new soil or compost to the hole that’s been prepared. If plants have already been placed in the ground, a top dressing can be applied by spreading the new soil over the top of existing dirt, being careful not to “bury” the plants or cover their leaves.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

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Yard transformation

What it Takes to Maintain Your new Landscape

Once your new landscape is completed, there are things you’ll need to do to maintain it and you have two choices – do it yourself or hire a professional. You may want to know when to fertilize, prune, take the stakes off young trees, or how often to mow.

Fertilizing

Your landscaper will have applied fertilizer when he/she installed the plantings. The best time for fertilizing lawns and other plantings is in the spring when they’ll be gathering nutrients to produce new leaves or buds. Check to see if there are any restrictions in your area in regard to fertilizing.

Mowing

If sod was laid in your new landscape, the first mowing can take place about 14 days later. The optimal height for lawn grass is approximately 2 ½ inches. At each mowing, you should never remove more than 1/3 of the grass blade to ensure continued good growth.

Pruning

Chances are your new trees, bushes or hedges won’t need trimming for quite some time. Avoid heavy pruning whenever possible and always trim during the winter season. Pruning and trimming stimulates new growth, which also means your plants will need more moisture.

Tree Stakes

There are no hard and fast rules about removing tree stakes. Trees typically anchor themselves sufficiently in 6-12 months. Keeping a tree staked too long will hinder and stunt its growth. One of the ways trees develop strong trunks is by moving freely in the breeze.

Water

A new landscape will require water and unless you’ve installed a programmable irrigation system, you’ll have to take care of the task yourself. Always water during the coolest parts of the day – it allows moisture to go into the ground and minimize evaporation in the heat.

Weed Control

Weeds are especially bad for flower beds. They rob the soil of nutrients needed by any new plantings. If the beds were installed by a landscaper, chances are an under layer of plastic was laid and mulch was applied. Both work to prevent weeds, but homeowners should be vigilant. Many weeds have very small seeds that can easily gain a footing.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

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landscaping Boca Raton and south Florida

RCH Landscaping Warns South Florida Residents to Prepare Their Landscapes for Hurricane Season

Boca Raton, FL – June 16, 2019 – The Atlantic Ocean has already seen its first subtropical storm of the year on May 20, though it didn’t transition into a fully-fledged hurricane. RCH Landscaping advises anyone that hasn’t already done so to prepare now for the hurricane season that’s already in progress.

The weather so far this year in the U.S. has been atypical and no one knows when one of the most powerful storms on the planet will come roaring out of nowhere. “Plan for the worst, hope for the best” is an adage that’s appropriate when preparing for a hurricane. In the high winds that accompany the storms, anything that can be tossed about or become airborne becomes a potential missile of destruction and injury.

Hurricanes result in a lot of vegetative debris that can block storm drains and cause significant damage to homes and businesses. It’s a good idea to fortify any loosely rooted bushes. One thing that many people forget to do is deactivate their sprinkler systems – leaving them on only places more water into an already soggy environment.

Hire a professional to take down or trim any damaged trees or limbs. The exception to that are palm trees. Removing live fronds will weaken the tree and make it more susceptible to damage, but do remove any coconuts or large seeds.

Yard furniture, decorations, playhouses and trampolines should be stored indoors. Tie down anything that can’t be moved and board up windows to minimize breaking glass. Swimming pools are a popular feature, but don’t try to drain them if a hurricane is coming. Doing so can damage the pool.

As ocean surges occur, drainage and flooding will become a major problem long before a hurricane actually arrives. Always make sure gutters, downspouts, tiles and shingles are firmly attached and free of debris. Storm drains will also need attention to ensure they’re clear.

Utilize proactive landscaping. Once the storm has passed, there will be new planting to be done. RCH Landscaping professionals can help deal with any new damage to existing plants and provide guidance about the types of trees or bushes that will best withstand the ravages of any future hurricane.

 

About RCH Landscaping

RCH Landscaping in Boca Raton and Palm Beach is South Florida’s leading commercial and residential landscape and irrigation company. We’ve had the luxury of providing commercial and residential landscaping to hundreds of happy South Florida clients.

 

Media Contact

RCH Landscaping
Phone: 561-779-9760
Email: rchlawnmaintenance@gmail.com
Website: www.rchlandscapingfl.com

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Plants that Require Little Maintenance

A beautifully landscaped property is the ideal for every homeowner, but it can require a substantial amount of time, effort and money to maintain. For individuals that are short on time, they can choose low-maintenance plants.

Homeowners should take care when choosing any type of plant for their landscaping needs. While some plants accommodate the low-maintenance criteria, they may also have invasive tendencies that can ultimately result in additional work.

Groundcovers

A number of groundcovers are available. They can range from a mere 2-6 inches, while others can grow to 24 inches. Flowers are typically small, some are very aromatic, and are available for shady and full-sun locations. Groundcovers include crown vetch, creeping sedum, fescue, hosta, peppermint, and creeping thyme.

Ornamental Grasses

This classification includes varieties that mature at 18 inches in height to those that can grow to 10-12 feet tall. They typically have unique or unusual looking “flower” heads and foliage can be green, reddish, variegated and golden yellow. Some spread slowly, while others can grow aggressively, and they’re often used in areas where soil erosion is a problem. Some varieties are feather reed grass, ribbon grass, and fountain grass.

Shrubs

Some shrubs remain relatively small, while others in the category can be grown as small trees. They may produce flowers, fruits eaten by birds, and foliage that can transition to red, yellow, orange and reddish-purple. Some examples are tree peony, smoke tree, and beautyberry

Trees

Some of the most popular low-maintenance trees are smaller specimens that grow from 20-35 feet tall, but make a big impact. These include hawthorn, weeping cherry, Ben Franklin tree, juniper, Japanese red maple, and miniature fruit trees.

Flowers

Low-maintenance flowering plants provide a splash of color in the landscape and attract birds, bees, butterflies and hummingbirds. The foliage remains after the blossoms are spent, typically die to the ground at the end of the season, and include canna lilies, cone flowers, geraniums, and meadow sage.

RCH Landscaping is a full service landscape company based in Boca Raton, Florida. We design, install, and maintain Commercial and Residential landscapes all around Boca Raton, Delray Beach and The Palm Beach areas. Our team of highly skilled landscape technicians have an undisputed track record of creating and maintaining beautiful commercial and residential landscapes all over South Florida.

Contact RCH Landscaping Today for a Free Estimate

561-779-9760

Read more
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