Bob & Pete's Seasonal Landscape and Gardening Tips for the Sierra Foothills

BP Landscapes of Grass Valley, Nevada City, Auburn, Folsom, and surrounding areas. Voted best landsape design firm for 6 years in a row by readers of The Union newspaper.

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Bob & Pete's Seasonal
Landscape and Gardening Tips

May 2010 Gardening Tips:
It’s time to get your garden site and soil ready for planting, then you can have fun purchasing your plants! This month we’ll focus on tips for site preparation and soil readiness and then move on to plant selection.

SITE SELECTION AND PREPARATION...
The best garden sites have lots of light, drainage and breezy air flow. Permanent garden bed development is an ideal way to jump start your garden from year to year. You may want to consider raised beds; you can grow more in less space, digging is easier, soil compacts less and it warms up more quickly. If you’re not sure you have the right location or are not able to do the work yourself, give us a call, we provide free consultations.

SOIL PREPARATION...
Soil testing is the best way to determine your soil is ready to help your plants thrive and should be done every three years. Garden centers and nurseries carry a variety of test kits you can perform at home to help you decide on proper soil amendments. If organic is right for you, consider common amendments such as compost, lime, peat moss, leaf mold, composted manure. We have experts to help you when you’re ready.

PLANT SELECTION...
You may want to sketch your garden and note what types of plants you want and where you will plant them. Considerations for selecting include: desirable and compatible flower and foliage colors, potential plant size and shape, sun and shade requirements of various plants, selecting plants that bloom throughout the growing season and will grow well in your soil conditions, choosing plants with similar water requirements. If you need expert advice, call out professional design team.

PURCHASING HEALTHY PLANTS...
Close inspection of your plants when you’re purchasing can insure a good start in your garden. Look for good root development, but make sure roots aren’t growing out the bottom of the pot. Root bound plants may suffer from transplant shock and will never thrive. Check for good soil moisture and avoid plants with weeds growing in the pot. Avoid plants with wilted or yellowing leaves, spindly growth or signs of insects and diseases. Have fun with your garden and remember us if you need advice!

April 2010 Gardening Tips:
GREEN Landscaping offers the homeowner a chance to save money, time, and resources while establishing healthier plants and soil, and adding to the diverse ecosystems of the planet. The future of sustainable landscaping lies in our capacity to accurately mimic the processes of nature for maximum efficiency. Not with short –term, quick-fix, chemical solutions that push our plants and poison our earth. This month learn how to go GREEN.

SOIL QUALITY...
Green Landscaping is all about quality….of the soil that is. Since healthy soil equals healthy plants, green landscapers, (here at BP Landscapes,) are constantly on the lookout for ways to boost soil fertility. When you’re a company focused on sustainable results for the long term, they will provide you with new plants and healthy soil rich in organic matter. This reduces maintenance and watering requirements and increases the life of your plants.

ECO-FRIENDLY LANDSCAPE ESSENTIALS...
Organic matter is the most basic element that determines soil fertility, and compost is the best organic matter source that you can offer a landscape, so compost is an essential part of any green landscaping project. Its job is to nourish your plants by infusing the soil with life and fertility. “Feed the soil, not the plants.”
Bagged compost can be purchased at any hardware store or nursery, but the best quality compost is often found at our local landscape material supplier in bulk form.

IRRIGATION TECHNIQUES AND MOISTURE RETENTION...
The next step in green landscaping is to consider your irrigation options.
Installation and Conservation. Drip irrigation far out performs the alternative – installation is fast and inexpensive, and the system waters deeply while using considerably less water than spray irrigation.
Water Wise. Sustainable landscaping techniques pair choices like a drip irrigation system with drought-tolerant plants, so that deep watering twice a month is often sufficient.
Plant Health. Drip irrigation assists with the development of deep root systems that encourage a stronger, healthier, and more drought-resistant landscape.
Savings. Your natural landscape will naturally lead to a substantially lower water bill.

RECYLCED GOODS...
Using recycled materials in the hardscape ensures that the consumer is not inadvertently supporting environmental degradation by buying stone and rock trucked from far away places. Instead of using expensive lumber that risks damage to the environment, use one of the many recycled plastic products that can be substituted for decks and landscape edging. The recycled materials also last longer because they are not susceptible to rot, like wood, making them a highly attractive option for the hardscape.

March 2010 Gardening Tips:
This month we will giving tips on: How to know when to hire a Landscape Professional. Every landscape improvement has the potential to be a rewarding project you can do yourself, but sometimes it is better to just hire a professional to do the job. Here are some objectives to remember when deciding whether you need a professional to do the work for you.

DECISIONS, DECISIONS...
Decide what areas of your lot you want landscape. Consider your lifestyle. Do you need a flat open area for children to play in, or a fenced-in area for gardening out of the reach of the deer? Do you want to increase your privacy from the street or neighboring houses?

COME UP WITH A PLAN...
Sketch out a plan the meets your needs and wants. Discuss your proposed design with the landscapers. Consider their suggestions, particularly if you’re uncertain about the layout you want. Or consider hiring a landscape designer if your project is large or if you’re having difficulty deciding what you want.

February 2010 Gardening Tips:
GET THE GARDEN TOOLS READY...
What better month to get your garden tools ready for the spring ahead. Maintaining your garden tools on a regular basis assures that they will be ready to go to work on your next garden chore. Following a few basic rules will add many years of life and use to all of the tools which make your gardening tasks easier.

MAINTENANCE FOR TOOLS...
Always remove all of the soil from your digging tools after each use. Usually hosing is all it takes, but, use a screwdriver to remove dried mud. Never put your tools away wet. Allow them to dry completely before storing to prevent rusting and handle rot.

MAINTENANCE FOR TOOLS PART II...
After each use, wipe the metal parts of pruners, shears, and loppers with an oily rag. Alternately, you can wipe your tools dry with a clean rag, and spray lightly with a penetrating oil such as WD40. For extra rust prevention, fill a 5 gallon bucket with builder’s sand and pour a quart of new motor oil over it. Use this as a shovel cleaner/oiler each time you put your tools away. Push each tool into the oily sand several times. You can also use this bucket as a shovel stand.