Company News – American Landscape

lluminate Your Outdoors: A Guide to Landscape and Hardscape Lighting

December 7, 2023/in Company News/by Mary Monday

A well-lit landscape can transform your property, enhancing its beauty and functionality. Whether you want to create a cozy atmosphere for outdoor gatherings or improve security, the right lighting can work wonders. Let’s explore the different kinds of lighting you can use in your landscape and hardscapes to enhance your property.

Path Lighting:

Path lights are a popular choice to light walkways, driveways, and garden paths. They guide guests safely around the exterior of your home and are an ideal way to enhance the curb appeal of your property in the evening. In the hands of a professional, path lighting can highlight the beauty of surrounding plants and shrubs, elevate the style of your home, and welcome you and your family home after sunset.

Spotlighting:

Spotlighting is perfect for highlighting the focal points of your landscape, such as trees, sculptures, or architectural elements. Use adjustable spotlights to create dramatic effects and draw attention to specific features. During the holidays, colored spotlights can add some festive cheer to your exterior.

Deck and Step Lighting:

Deck and step lights are essential for safety. They prevent tripping and add a warm ambiance to outdoor spaces. These lights come in various designs, including recessed, surface-mounted, and post-mounted options.

Wall Wash Lighting:

Wall wash lights are ideal for illuminating the sides of your home, creating a soft, uniform glow. This technique can make your property look larger and more inviting.

Hardscape Lighting:

Hardscape features like retaining walls, pergolas, and outdoor kitchens can be beautifully accentuated with hardscape lighting. This type of lighting provides both functionality and an artistic touch to your outdoor spaces. We often place lighting on the underside of fire pit seatwalls to enhance the ambiance and visibility for safety. Many of our clients are requesting inlighting for their pathways and driveways. This technology allows in-ground LED lights to be installed within concrete, brick, or stone pavers. Their low profile means they can be walked on – an attractive way to eliminate any risk of a trip hazard.

Smart Lighting:

With the rise of smart home technology, you can control your landscape and hardscape lighting remotely. Adjust the brightness, color, and scheduling with your smartphone, making it easy to customize your outdoor lighting to match your mood or special occasions.

Solar-Powered Lighting:

For eco-conscious homeowners, solar-powered lights are a fantastic choice. They store energy during the day and illuminate your landscape at night, reducing your carbon footprint and electricity bills.

When planning your landscape and hardscape lighting, consider the aesthetic, safety, and functionality you need for your Wisconsin property. A well-designed lighting scheme can enhance your property’s beauty and value while creating a welcoming and secure outdoor space. Whether you choose the classic elegance of path lights or the modern flexibility of smart lighting, you’re sure to enjoy the transformation of your property under the right glow.

At American Landscape, our designers know the latest technology to ensure you get the design and functionality you want in your landscape lighting. Get in touch today to learn more about your options for enhancing both the aesthetics and safety of your landscaping.

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Managing Green Debris: 4 Essential Tips for Garden Waste

October 26, 2023/in Company News/by Mary Monday

On a crisp autumn morning in Milwaukee, imagine sipping a warm beverage while admiring the burst of colors in your garden. It’s almost heavenly.

But not without its challenges.

As leaves gracefully descend, managing green debris becomes paramount in nurturing a healthy, sustainable outdoor haven.

In this guide, crafted with the unique characteristics of the greater Milwaukee area in mind, discover essential tips that enhance your garden’s beauty and contribute to the overall well-being of our environment.

Understanding Garden Waste

In Milwaukee’s gardens, you’ll find all sorts of green leftovers—spent flowers, trimmed branches, and those fallen leaves that make autumn so picturesque.

It’s the usual stuff you’d see after a weekend of tending to your garden:

Grass clippings
Weeds
Pruned shrubs
Debris from annual plant clean-up
Dead plants
Twigs and small sticks
Plant residues after harvest

But here’s the thing: there’s more to this debris than meets the eye.

It’s not just about keeping things neat; it’s about being kind to our environment. When we talk about getting rid of these garden leftovers, it’s more than a cleanup job. It’s about doing our bit for the local ecosystem.

Local Green Debris Challenges

Our Milwaukee gardens face unique challenges when dealing with this green debris. We have some specific hurdles to tackle.

Weather Woes

Milwaukee’s weather keeps us on our toes, and our gardens feel it, too.

Seriously… Wait 10 minutes and you’re sure to feel the difference between the crisp fall morning and the almost summer-like warm afternoon!

The ever-changing climate brings its own set of challenges for managing green debris.

From sudden storms scattering leaves to unexpected frosts affecting plant health, we must be a step ahead in navigating these weather-related hurdles.

Local Regulations on Deck

Our city has some rules in place, and rightly so. Understanding local regulations is key to responsibly handling garden waste.

From disposal guidelines to designated collection days, staying in the know helps us keep our gardens and neighborhoods in tip-top shape while respecting the community’s standards.

Neighborhood Expectations

Milwaukeeans take pride in their neighborhoods. There’s an unspoken agreement to keep our streets and gardens looking good.

Meeting neighborhood expectations regarding garden waste disposal is not just a civic duty; it’s a shared effort to maintain the charm of our local green spaces.

4 Tips for Garden Waste in the Greater Milwaukee Area

Sure, yard waste can be a bit of a hassle. However, properly disposing of or utilizing green debris can be simple and rewarding with the right preparation and planning.

With the right approach, you can maximize your green waste while keeping your neighborhood and community looking its best.

1. Yard Waste Pickup Programs

As the seasons shift, many local municipalities offer curbside pickups for yard waste as part of your regular garbage service.

It’s essential to stay in the know and check your local city or county website for information on properly preparing for your curbside pickup.

For instance, some programs may require you to bag your green waste, or else they will not pick it up.

However, other regions in the Milwaukee area may require that you pile your green waste in a specific way for pickup. For instance, in the city of Milwaukee, garden waste pickup runs between October 1st and November 15th.

Residents are encouraged to keep their piles away from sewer grates and are to be located roughly one foot from the curb to allow for proper water flow to the sewers.

2. Composting in Milwaukee

Composting is the practice of returning organic matter to the soil through the process of decomposition. `Once the organic matter is broken down, it can be used as fertilizer in your garden or yard in the springtime.

Benefits of Composting:

Nutrient-rich soil: Compost is a nutrient powerhouse, enriching your soil with essential elements for plant growth.
Water Retention: Milwaukee’s weather can be unpredictable, but compost helps your soil retain moisture, keeping your garden hydrated.
Reduced Landfill Waste: By composting, you’re diverting kitchen scraps and garden waste from landfills, contributing to a greener Wisconsin.

While home composting is a great practice, many local municipalities have specific guidelines for residents who wish to dispose of their green waste through composting.

According to the City of Milwaukee, all compost piles must have a hood and be made of commercial-grade materials.

Tips for Composting Success in Milwaukee:

Balance is Key: Aim for a mix of green (nitrogen-rich) and brown (carbon-rich) materials. Lawn clippings, kitchen scraps, and dry leaves are a winning combo.
Mind the Moisture: Milwaukee’s climate can vary, so monitor your compost’s moisture. It should feel like a wrung-out sponge—damp but not waterlogged.
Patience Pays Off: Composting is a slow dance. Give it time, turn your pile regularly, and you’ll soon have nutrient-rich compost ready to boost your Milwaukee garden’s vitality.

3. Mulching Techniques

When most homeowners think of mulch, they think of the traditional chunks of woodchips or plastic faux chips that line their flowerbeds. While these mulches are effective, they are not the only options available.

In fact, mulching with organic matter, such as shredded leaves, grass clippings, or even bark, can make a big difference in the health of your soil and the quality of your garden. This technique not only adds to the aesthetic allure of your green haven but serves as an eco-friendly solution for managing green debris by:

Acting as a Natural Weed Barrier: Tired of battling stubborn weeds? Mulch acts as a protective shield, stifling weed growth and minimizing the need for constant maintenance.
Boosting Soil Health: Milwaukee’s diverse weather can be challenging, but mulch insulates your soil. It regulates temperature, conserves moisture, and provides a cozy home for beneficial organisms.

Mulching Tips for Garden Waste:

Layering Organic Mulch: Begin with a layer of organic mulch crafted from yard waste like shredded leaves or bark. This not only adds aesthetic appeal but also decomposes over time, enriching your soil with organic goodness.

Mindful Application: Apply mulch when the soil is moist in spring or fall. In Milwaukee, this timing ensures your garden gets the most out of the mulching benefits during varied weather conditions.
Choose Wisely: Opt for locally sourced mulch to ensure it’s well-suited for Milwaukee’s climate. Hardwood mulch, for example, not only looks great but also withstands our city’s seasonal fluctuations.

4. Professional Garden Waste Removal Services

Professional garden waste removal services offer more than just a clean garden. They provide a convenient, eco-friendly solution that allows you to relish the beauty of your Milwaukee garden without getting your hands dirty.

For example, American Landscape offers several services to help you manage garden waste, including:

Basic Lawncare, Mowing and Debris Removal

These services maintain your lawn’s vibrancy by ensuring optimal grass height, promoting healthy growth, and safeguarding against potential issues.

Regular mowing and efficient debris removal contribute to a neat and enjoyable outdoor space for relaxation and connection with nature.

Fall and Spring Cleanups

These services revitalize your garden by clearing away seasonal debris, trimming overgrown plants, and preparing your outdoor space for the upcoming season.

This thorough cleanup enhances the visual appeal of your garden and fosters a healthier environment for plants to thrive. With fall and spring cleanups, your garden welcomes each season with a fresh start, ensuring it remains vibrant and resilient throughout the year.

When deciding which professional services to invest your time and money in, you’ll want to consider some of the following:

Local Know-How: Opt for a service familiar with Milwaukee’s unique greenery. Local expertise ensures they understand the quirks of our climate and the specific needs of your garden.
Sustainability Practices: Embrace eco-consciousness by choosing a service that prioritizes sustainability. Look for those who compost or recycle the garden waste they collect, contributing to Milwaukee’s green initiatives.
Regulation Compliance: Milwaukee has its set of regulations regarding waste disposal. Ensure your chosen service adheres to these regulations, guaranteeing a hassle-free and compliant garden waste removal process.

Get More Tips for Garden Waste From American Landscape

Explore a greener, more sustainable approach to garden waste management with American Landscape. As you’ve discovered essential tips for handling garden waste, we invite you to explore creating an eco-friendly haven in your Milwaukee outdoor space.

Trust American Landscape to be your partner in cultivating a garden that enhances curb appeal and contributes to the well-being of our local environment.

For personalized guidance and comprehensive garden services, reach out to us today.

Tending the St. Dominic Prayer Gardens

August 24, 2023/in Company News/by American Landscape

We were honored to be recognized by the WCLA for the landscape maintenance work we do to properly tend the prayer gardens at St. Dominic Parish in Brookfield, Wisconsin.

The Prayer Garden is an integral part of the church’s traditions and is a highly prized space frequented by the parishioners. Created in 2005, the church leadership wanted the St. Dominic Prayer Gardens to be a place to reflect and remember. It provides a place for weddings, sacred services, and a gathering place for all. It offers its parishioners and any others passionate about natural beauty a chance to be still and ponder nature in a very beautiful and simple way.

Seven themed gardens circle one primary garden area with a statue of St. Dominic. Each garden contains religious statuary on a stone base surrounded by plantings that relate to each garden theme. Our team considers it a special honor to meticulously maintain this special space.

Since the Prayer Gardens were built on a former marsh area, our landscape maintenance plan calls for special attention to the watering/irrigation schedule for all the diverse plant material. Soil conditions are monitored and improved as necessary to provide proper growing conditions for all of the many plant varieties present. Beds are embossed to help with drainage. Mulch is kept to a minimum to keep the soil healthy and not too wet. This requires extra weeding time to keep the Gardens in well-tended and in top condition.

Along with the various garden beds and evergreens requiring upkeep, a dedicated maintenance crew is tasked with ensuring the turf is healthy, green, and trimmed properly throughout the growing season. We mow in concentric circles around the main statue to complement the circular layout of the gardens.

To allow the gardens to be enjoyed in the evening hours, we designed and installed landscape lighting. Up lights illuminate the sculptures and specimen plants, while path lights ensure safe passage on the walkways. The lights are all on timers.

Our team is very proud of their landscape maintenance work here and often receive compliments thought out the year for the care they take in the tending of the St. Dominic Prayer Gardens. Watch Video:

Contact us today to connect with our talented team to realize your vision for your landscape. We serve, residential, non-profit, and commercial clients in the Milwaukee area.

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Plants to Attract Birds in Winter

January 5, 2023/in Company News, Landscaping/by Mary Monday

We went to the experts for their favorite selection of plants that attract birds in winter. Here are a few ideas you can consider for your own landscape to draw our feathered friends to your yard!

Ryan and John both suggest chokeberry. Older varieties were often large and unruly, but the newer cultivars are smaller and tame. Ground Hug, Low Scape Mound and Low Scape Hedger are three varieties that fit well in the suburban landscape. They are native cultivars and birds love the berries over the winter. Depending on the chokeberry variety you select, the berries will be red or black. If you need more convincing that this plant is a winner, they also deliver flowers that attractive native pollinators and they give your landscape a fabulous pop of fall color. If you’re a bird watcher, chokeberry is a must have in your winter landscape. Watch for cedar waxwings, chickadees and cardinals to visit your shrubs.

Steve loves to use crabapples trees to attract birds. Crabapples once had a bad reputation because they would drop their fruit and often get fungal diseases. The newer varieties on the market hold their fruit through the winter and are more disease resistant than ever. Cedar waxwings and robins are common visitors to the trees and they rely on them for food as they migrate back in the spring. Best of all, the flowers put on a show every spring and are an important food source for pollinators in the spring.

Left undisturbed in the garden, the seedheads of various perennials and ornamental grasses provide sustenance for many birds in winter. Wendy likes to leave specific perennials up in the garden over winter to attract birds. Native grasses like little bluestem and native coneflowers and rudbeckias are favorites for seed-collecting birds. Finches, juncos, grosbeaks, and cardinals all enjoy visiting these plants over winter.

Katie Jean takes the novel approach of repurposing annuals left in the garden to help attract birds in winter. Sunflowers, amaranth, tithonia & zinnia are some favorites of the birds. You can either leave them up in your garden beds or gather the stems into a bouquet and attach it to a tree or post in your garden. Clever! These types of seeds are a particular favorite of finches, chickadees and juncos.

To attract a wide variety of birds, we recommend having multiple food sources available to entice whomever might be wintering nearby. A source of water and a nearby evergreen for protection will make your yard the perfect hangout for your feathered friends! And don’t be discouraged if you don’t have immediate sightings. It might take a little time for the birds to find your new plants, but keep an eye out and soon you will see them gathering in the haven you provided!

Our experts are ready to help with all your landscaping needs. Get in touch!

Download Fall Landscaping Checklist

October 3, 2022/in Company News, Landscaping/by American Landscape

Fall is a perfect time to set your landscape up for success in spring and summer. Follow this guide for our top tips on how to care for your flowers, lawn, trees and shrubs in fall.

Download Checklist

Flowers

Divide & transplant perennials (while ground temperatures are still warm)
Cut the tops and stems down to a few inches above the crown at the base of each plant. Once you’re done, make sure you rake the beds and dispose of dead plant material so your garden still looks fresh during the winter months.
Note: leaving a few inches of plant material and mulching above the crown is better for the plants. If any critters decide to nibble over the winter, they’ll eat the few inches above the crown instead of eating the crown and killing the plant.
Plant fall bulbs (before the ground freezes)
When you plant your bulbs, unless the label says differently, plant the bigger bulbs 8” deep and the smaller bulbs at 5”. Place the bulb in the hole with the roots facing down. Once planted, cover the hole with soil but don’t pack it. Water it once. Read our guide on planting fall bulbs.
Clear leaves from flower beds
Treat perennial weeds with herbicide
Spray perennial weeds (bindweed, creeping Jenny, clover, etc.) before the first freeze to allow the weeds to take in the herbicide and prevent a weedy garden in spring.

Lawn

Aerate your lawn – fall is the best time! The benefits are numerous:
- Improve air exchange between the soil and atmosphere.
- Enhance soil water and fertilizer uptake.
- Reduce water runoff and puddling.
- Strengthen turf grass roots.
- Reduce soil compaction.
Fertilize your lawn
Apply before the first freeze to ensure it looks its best come warmer weather.
Clear leaves from lawn
Mulching the leaves helps return nutrients to the soil. If that’s not an option for you, raking the leaves and keeping your lawn clear of debris can prevent your lawn from being smothered and stunting new grass growth.

Trees/Shrubs

Continue watering trees and shrubs until the first frost
Protect your trees & shrubs
Wrap trees up to the lower branches using hardware cloth or tree wrap to prevent damage from deer rubbing. Cage small trees and shrubs in hardware cloth to prevent rabbit/rodent damage. Be sure to bury the cloth 2-3” beneath the surface.
Do NOT prune evergreens until spring
Remove leaves from under diseased plants and trees
If your tree/shrub had a disease issue, such as apple scab, powdery mildew, tar spot, etc., disposing of the diseased leaves will help prevent a recurrence next year.

Note: do not compost diseased leaves.

Prevention is best, so consider getting on a spray program

Fertilize your trees and shrubs
Fertilizing in fall encourages root growth by restoring nutrients to the soil and allows for lush, healthy growth and flowering the following season.

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November 16, 2016/in Company News/by American Landscape