Pleasant LandscapesMake Your Landscape...Pleasant!
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Pleasant Landscapes Newsletter - May 2011Lazy Summer Days in the Yard It was a blustery, brutal winter. The Lowcountry
saw an early freeze before last December and a late freeze in March.
On account of which, the toll has been taken on our trees, turf and
greens which means it is imperative that these following months are
spent nurturing your landscape back to health. It is particularly
important to tend to your trees; they provide betterment to us and
the environment and there are so many simple steps that we can take
in these next months to help them flourish.
The regions beautiful Oleander’s are feeling the
brunt of the passing winter, but they too with a little coaxing can
return to health, usually by cutting off all of the winter damage
and disposing of these branches properly, this will sometimes call
to cut the oleander to the ground. With the addition of a layer of
pine straw-or pine needle to the base of these trees, you will see
outstanding improvement with moisture
retention, soil health and reduced weed growth. Unique to pine
straw, and unlike mulch, is that straw is visually appealing in an
auburn color, acts as a suspiring pest deterrent, breaks down over
time for lasting protection and it is less timely to re-apply-
making it very low maintenance. It is most productive when laid
after the first freeze of the year, and it will provide an unmatched
source of fertilizer as it releases nitrogen during decomposition,
and the best part is that is half of the cost of mulch. In cases
where your trees drop leaves 2 times a year it is the best choice.
Each yard is unique. In cases where there are
especially leafy species of trees, pine straw is the better bet. For
yards with fewer trees, mulching is more beneficial and can last 2
to 3 times longer than pine straw. Mulch in leafy yards will just
get covered up with pollen pods and leaves so the pine straw is the
better choice. To be sure, have a professional take a look at your
outdoor spaces and get some advice on how to encourage tree health.
Your family and friends will thank you on those upcoming lazy summer
days in the yard, and Mother Nature will sure appreciate the help
too!
James Parker |
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P.O. Box 445 - Isle of Palms, South Carolina 29451 - Phone 843.886.9316 | Fax 843.886.4918
Johns Island: 843.768.6808
| East Cooper: 843.886.9314
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For instance, recall that our region sees two
leaf-drops a year; in both spring and fall. During these seasons we
must take care that we are acknowledging the array of species of
trees in our yards and catering to their changing needs. Those of us
with beautiful live oaks in the yard must think about the backwards
calendar at work, bearing in mind that the live oaks drop their
leaves and pollen pods in the Spring not the Fall, and that we must
wait until the last of the pollen pods have expired, dropped and
dissipated this spring before we remove the debris and lay our
mulch. Mulching is one of the most important processes in tree
health because you are providing a protective barrier to retain
moisture, provide nutrients and curb weed growth. And as you are
watching for the last of the pollen pods to drop, do keep in mind
that clearing the debris and leaves from under your oaks and
throughout your yard will provide the most sunlight to your grass as
it begins to reemerge.