News – Page 4 – American Landscape

Watering Tips

July 9, 2020/in News/by American Landscape

Our water trucks are being kept busy in this dry, hot weather. We are providing many clients with seasonal watering services for our annual installations and temporary watering for new plantings.

Keeping plants and lawns well hydrated is critical for their health and longevity. Here are a few “hot” tips to ensure you can keep your garden beds, containers, and lawns well-tended during these hotter weeks we are experiencing:

Lawn Watering

A lawn irrigation system relieves you of the ongoing burden of watering regularly. If that’s not an option, be sure to follow a pattern of less frequent, but deeper watering. We always advise clients to water early in the day. If you water during the hottest part of the day, you risk not only evaporation but droplets can reflect the sun and cause additional browning of your lawn. If your lawn is newly installed, keep an extra close eye on it to be sure you are keeping it well hydrated.

Pro Tip: Leave your grass a little longer than usual to shade the roots!

Plant Watering

Again, a bed irrigation system is an ideal solution to keeping your plantings watered properly. If taking care of it by hand, be aware that plants with smaller root systems (annuals & perennials) are going to dry out much more quickly and are at more risk. Annuals often need watering every day in high heat.

With a little effort and the right approach, you can help your lawn and garden beds thrive, even during a Wisconsin hot, dry spell. And don’t worry! Although it’s not attractive, a well-established lawn can turn brown and go dormant during short, dry periods and will grow again once the weather changes.

If you would like to learn more about American Landscape’s watering services, get in touch today!

Oconomowoc Lake House – Gold Award for Excellence in Landscape Design & Construction

June 4, 2020/in News/by American Landscape

The Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association awarded American Landscape a gold award for excellence for the work we did on behalf of a client on Oconomowoc Lake. This project site is located on a beautiful lakeside lot, with a well-appointed residence. The client shared with us a simple sketch that he had drawn, which provided enough insight to complete a conceptual drawing.

Delivering on Client’s Wish List

Our team was committed to delivering on all the items on our client’s wish list, including:

“This patio of mine needs to go and grow”
“I need a walkway up to my front door”
“I’d like to sit in my front yard, enjoy the view of the lake and maybe have a fire pit”
“I’m going to build a pizza oven”

Drainage Challenge

Existing grades were such that the front yard drained towards the residence, with no way to change that. So, this project was going to be driven by a drainage system design that needed to be figured out first, or we couldn’t move forward. Fortunately, there was an on-site storm sewer that we could tap into.

Deck + Patio + Walkway

Using the existing brick wall, we could elevate and double the size of the original patio by converting it to a raised deck and establish a space for the pizza oven on deck level. A serpentine walkway was created, that moved people from the driveway to the deck and the front patio courtyard seating area concept off the front porch that was driven by the size of the root structure of the large existing oak tree.
The final plan also included low voltage lighting, plants that could tolerate shade and the re-use of brick and bluestone from his previous patio. Our team checked all the boxes for our client, resulting in a gorgeous, multi-functional outdoor space that maximizes lake views.

Are you ready to start dreaming about your own project? Get in touch with us today to learn how we can help you check all the boxes on YOUR wish list!

Dragonfly Farm – Judges Choice Award + Gold Medal Winner for Excellence in Landscape Maintenance

May 14, 2020/in News/by American Landscape

Early in March, American Landscape was thrilled to receive a Gold Medal and the Judge’s Award from the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association for landscape maintenance on Dragonfly Farm, a 15.5 acre property located in Mequon, Wisconsin. These valued clients have a strong belief in utilizing best management practices toward the responsible stewardship of the land while at the same time presenting a distinguished and dynamic landscape. American Landscape keeps those standards in mind and performs all landscape design, construction and maintenance services at the highest level with ultimate respect toward the land and its various inhabitants. Read more

American Landscape Honored with Seven 2019 Awards of Excellence!

April 15, 2020/in News/by American Landscape

In late March, the Wisconsin Landscape Contractors Association held their Annual Banquet to recognize the great projects and achievements completed by various members in 2019. We’re very excited to announce that American Landscape was presented with SEVEN Awards of Excellence on various Landscape Design & Construction and Landscape Maintenance projects! This included three Gold awards, three Silver awards and the coveted Judge’s Choice Award, which is given to the top project in the industry for the year. Read more

Why You Should Avoid Mulch Volcanoes

April 10, 2020/in News, Lawn Care/by American Landscape

‘Tis the season to get out your shovels and rakes and spread some mulch in your garden beds and around trees. Mulch has numerous benefits to your landscape, but beware! In this case, there can definitely be too much of a good thing and it can be deadly for your trees.

Benefits of Mulch

First, let’s talk about the benefits to establishing a layer of mulch around your trees:

eliminates potential injuries from mowers and string-trimmers
separates major root zone areas from nearby sod areas, and
breaks down, enriching the soil and providing nutrients to tree root
moderates soil temperatures
decreases erosion
aids in drainage

Issues with Mulch Volcanoes

Mulch volcanoes are deep piles of mulch heaped around the base of trees and shrubs. Piling mulch against a tree trunk harms the tree in the following ways:

holds moisture against the trunk and roots of the tree, leading to fungal diseases and rot.
harbors insects, increasing pest disease; and can also
harbor small rodents who chew on tree bark

Another issue is that mulch volcanoes encourage roots to grow laterally into the mulch. This causes roots to girdle the trunk, which weakens the tree’s support system.

Correct Way to Mulch

Apply mulch to a depth of 2-3 inches around a tree, leaving a space of 12-16” away from the base of the trunk clear of mulch.
Ensure the mulch is spread level with the root flare (the point at the base of a tree trunk where the trunk expands and transitions into the root system)
Extend mulch area to the edge of the tree canopy, or at least several feet from trunk.
If mulch is piled against the tree trunk, rake away from the center.
Rake up compacted mulch to keep air and water flowing and reaching the roots.
In landscape beds containing multiple trees surrounded by sod, join the trees in one mulched bed rather than multiple “circles” of beds to create a more efficient design.

We have a team of certified arborists who can help ensure your trees are properly cared for and last for years. We’d love to help you preserve your valuable investment. Contact us today for a consultation.

Three Month Landscaping Guide

April 2, 2020/in News/by American Landscape

This three month guide (April – June) will set you up for landscaping success this season. We cover all the tasks you should tackle for your flowers, lawn, trees and shrubs.

Download the guide by clicking the link below!