Cedar Springs Landscape

Design Tips:

• Before starting your project, you should explore other lawns and gardens. Take a look at residential, commercial and public gardens. You never know where you might find an idea that can inspire you with your own garden.

• Always consider the placement of trees. Trees are an undervalued asset to any garden, providing shade and structure all year round.
  

• Plant flowers, vines and different groundcovers to provide focal points to certain areas. Flowers can also add nice splashes of color to dull areas.

• Be sure to pay close attention to your yard's climate and plant accordingly. Since different plants and flowers require different climates, it is very important to make sure you can provide that climate.

Seasonal Care for your Landscape

Early Spring -

• Remove leaves and debris from planting areas
• Cut back perennials and grasses that were not cut back in fall
• Prune shrub roses
• Apply a weed preventer such as Preen
• Top dress plant beds with at least 1 inch of topsoil
• Fertilize perennials and rose bushes

Early Summer -

• Trim evergreens as new growth emerges
• Remove weeds and apply a second application of weed preventer
  

Early Fall -

• Remove weeds
• Stop fertilizing and pruning, plants are starting to go dormant
• Cut back perennials that look untidy and are starting to die off

Late Fall -

• Water all landscape plants so they maintain good soil moisture
• Cut back perennials at the base of the plant

Perennial Care

Planting:

• Perennial plants can be planted any time from spring through fall, although spring planting is the best to get the most out of the growing season.
• Amending the soil before planting is always recommended, especially in clay or sandy soils.
• Make sure the root system of the plant is spread apart before planting, especially if the plant is “root-bound” when taken out of the pot.
• Perennial plants need supplemental watering until they are well established.

Fertilizing:

• Perennial plants can be fertilized with a general fertilizer (10-10-10) in May, June and July. Make sure that any fertilizer applied is watered in well.
• Do not fertilize after July, as you do not want to encourage a flush of late season new growth.

Watering:

• Water perennial plant beds sufficiently to encourage plant roots to go deep and not stay near the surface.
• Perennial plantings under trees may need supplemental watering to make sure that the plants are receiving needed moisture and are not having to compete with tree roots.