October 2022A Leaf from Our Playbook |
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-Falling for cool weather colors! - |
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As our month of transition ends and daylight hours become fewer, we need to remember to keep our landscapes fresh and ready for winter. Fall is an ideal time to refresh gardens and planters with color. The warm soil and cooling air helps establish root structures more quickly and without stressing the plants out too much. By planting in fall, you also provide a head start in acclimating in time for spring! |
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Shorter daylight hours also bring big changes for hard working Spring/Summer trees and shrubs. Less light means less time for photosynthesis. The reduced process leads to less chlorophyll being produced and gives us the brilliant color we associate with Fall. This time allows for rest, regeneration, root growth for all plants and trees. With the breakdown of pigments, the leaf structure also becomes lighter and eventually dry. The leaves begin to fall from the branches due to wind or rainfall. |
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We at Thompson offer seasonal color and flower planting service. We source plants that are locally grown and acclimated to our area to ensure the best fit for your landscape. It is important to remember, however, all trees/shrubs/plants alike need proper placement, growing conditions, and management to thrive and provide from season to season. |
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Fall is here and that means leaves! Our leaf truck is up and ready to roll. Our crews will be on-site with rakes, buckets, and blowers. Leaves are messy and, when wet, can be dangerous, hiding hazards and making walkways slippery. They can smother lawns if left in place too long. We strive to clean them up thoroughly and quickly. As we drive away the leaves continue to fall so, we will return at your regular scheduled service date to continue the clean up! Please keep in mind blowers are noisy! We apologize for any extra noise made during leaf clean up. |
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Fall time is perfect for planning ahead!Whether you are planning for full spring revamp or wanting to look for something new, fall is a great time to look ahead. Many areas are looking for water-wise options for their planters and landscapes. Most south-western areas have gone the route of xeriscape or even zero-scape, yes there is a difference! |
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Xeriscapes focus on plants that are well acclimated to local climates, so they use less water once established in a landscape. It is important to remember, however, native plants grow in areas they like and are not always suited for your landscape! Be sure to ask about what native plants will do well being added to your specific application. For the first year or two after planting, supplemental water will be necessary to ensure strong root structure to sustain the plants long term. Many people thing of xeriscapes as only using cactus, succulents, and any low water desert like plants but many landscapes can take advantage of native plants to keep the local aesthetic. A benefit of using native plants is that they need very little fertilizer compared to lawns and non-native plants. They can get what they need from the existing soil. This means less pollution of our waterways and oceans due to runoff. Understand that different plants have different needs. There are plants that need consistently damp soil. They will not do well if the soil is allowed to dry out before water is applied. Proper irrigation is the key to success. Xeriscapes are beautiful and will save water usage in the long run. They offer a lower maintenance requirement in some cases as well! |
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Zero-Scape is another term used to describe what most think of a landscape that needs little to no water but that is not the case. Many people frequently interchange these two terms, but it’s important to note that they are very different. Zero-scape is a landscape design made up of dirt or gravel with essentially no plants in it. These are also popular in desert areas since not many plants can survive in such hot and dry climates. Your yard will consist of gravel, dirt and potentially a few plants here and there if you decide to add some. Zero-scape yards can be extremely plain, however, if you are looking for the cheapest, low maintenance landscape option out there, then zero-scape can be a way to go. Not all Zero-scapes are created equal, however, there are many ways to incorporates no plants but still create a pleasing view in your landscape. |
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Stay tuned for the winter Prune and Groom Edition!As fall comes and goes, remember plants need rest too! Winter is a great time to prune back and clean up many ornamental plants to prepare them for a full spring of growth and renewed vigor! Winterization of irrigation systems is also needed! Fall is the time to schedule this if not already included in our yearly agreements we offer. Safeguarding systems from freezing temperatures is essential to help reduce the chance of breaks and costly irrigation repairs come springtime. |
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Does your commercial property need a little TLC? Use your landscape as an asset that speaks to your customers. We can help. The Contact Us button takes you to our website where you can choose our number to call or click the Bid Request button to send an email to sales. | | |
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