We are starting to see longer days of sunshine and before we know it, spring bulbs will start to emerge from the previously frozen ground while buds take over the once bare trees. Keeping your landscape healthy and looking its best requires care not only spring through fall. Pruning plants during winter months is an essential element to this goal. Inside every plant is a work of art waiting to bloom!

6 Reasons to Winter Prune

1. Branch structures of plants can be seen more easily when the leaves aren't in the way. This allows easier identification of crossing stems, dead branches, and stems growing in awkward directions all of which contribute to clumsy looking plants. 

2. The chance of transmitting diseases reduces in the winter since most bacteria is dormant at this time. 

3. Cuts caused by pruning heal faster during the winter. Your plants have more stored energy to direct to healing the wound. 

4. Old and overgrown shrubs can be rejuvenated by pruning to 6-12” above ground, allowing new growth to generate from the base of the plant.

5. Winter pruning reduces the amount of buds on the plants, a good thing, allowing the remaining buds to grow more vigorously in the spring.

6. The risk of injury to other plants is lessened as annual and perennial plant types have not yet emerged.

Downpour? Bury that Downspout. Three Reasons Why!
 

Michigan is staying true to its reputation of unpredictable weather and has given its residents the gift of nonstop rain, ice, snow and a mix of all three for the past month. 
 

You may have noticed your lawn turning from a winter wonderland to a muddy mayhem. The water needs to go somewhere and with frozen ground the options are more limited. 

Pooling water is not only an eyesore but has the potential to cause even larger problems. A measure we recommend to reduce potential water problems is burying your downspouts. 

Why Bury? Three reasons.

1. Buried downspouts direct roof water collected in your gutter system away from the foundation of your home preventing water from entering.  
 

2. Buried downspouts are more aesthetically pleasing and help the landscape curb appeal of your home. 
 

3. Buried downspouts eliminate the hazard of above-ground downspout extensions. Above-ground extensions can pose a trip hazard and also typically discharge onto hard surfaces, creating the ideal location for ice patches in colder months.

We recommend hiring a professional to bury your downspouts. Professionals have access to high grade materials, know how to slope the downspouts away from your home properly and, let's be honest, the process is very labor intensive.
 

There are plenty of professional contractors to choose from and D.A. Alexander & Company, Inc. is here to help when you need it!

We've selected some of our favorites to showcase this season's best landscape projects!  

I'm Dreaming of a White... and Silver and Gold... Christmas!

It's that time of the year when we load our families into the car and drive around the neighborhoods to see the magnificent display of houses lit up with holiday cheer. We ‘ooh' and ‘ahh' at the wonder but come sunrise, the Christmas lights disappear along with the stars. If you want your home to stay cheery and bright, even in the daylight, add a few simple decorations that don't require strands of bulbs to shine! 

Hang garland with ribbon around the entrance to your home. Whether real or artificial, it will add an element of greenery and a pop of color to the snowy surrounding. Of course, garlands can be wound with Christmas lights to join the lightshow once the sun goes down.

Yard decorations don't have to be giant inflatable snow globes or cartoon Rudolf's with red noses either. Placing silver or gold ornaments throughout your shrubbery and even in the trees will add some festivity without being too overwhelming.

Lastly, lawn reindeer are lovely when all lit up at night but are hard to see during the day. Make them enjoyable from sunup to sundown and display reindeer created with twine or a similar material rather than just wire and lights.

Together, these pieces create a cohesive, chic holiday look to enhance the curb appeal of your home that is beautiful during the day and spectacular at night as the Christmas lights get their chance to shine. 

Save the Sprinklers! 

Winter is coming and Jack Frost is already starting to warn us early in the morning. Prepping for the cold weather includes a variety of tasks but one people often forget about is winterizing their irrigation system. 

As the temperatures drop, your backflow device becomes the most vulnerable. Backflow devices are most often located aboveground and one cold morning could cause it to break, leading to a costly repair.   As frost levels sink deeper and deeper into the soil they will eventually reach your irrigation system, typically located 8-12 inches below the ground.  

Even if you have drained your backflow device, some water will remain in the system and can freeze, causing pipes and heads to crack. The best way to avoid this is to use a method known as the “compressed air blow out method.” By using high volume compressed air, any remnants of water will be evacuated, protecting your irrigation system throughout the winter months. 

Irrigation systems are important for Michigan landscapes and are expensive to replace should something go wrong.  Your irrigation system may be one of the only things you purchase and immediately bury so it should be well taken care of and D. A. Alexander & Company, Inc. is here to help!

D. A. Alexander & Company, Inc. can help keep your landscape beautiful year-round, including protection during the harsh cold months so it can return to its lush, green state as the snow melts away. 

Call 734-427-0030 now to schedule your winterization service. 

Fall In Love with Fall Planters

The temperatures are dropping and while we may be getting fewer hours of sunlight, that's no reason to keep your landscape from being anything but bright and beautiful!

Planters are an easy way to add a pop of color to your yard this fall. 

Try mixing an array of fall-inspired colors such as deep yellows, rust reds and even bits of pink and purple. Pansies are a great choice for pink and purple hues, while hardy mums come in a large assortment of colors and are one of fall's favorite flowers. Foliage plants such as ornamental kale are a great addition; with its frilly leaves, colorful centers, and excellent tolerance for cool temperatures, ornamental kale is easy to combine with other fall favorites, making it a prime planter addition.

General care for your planters this fall includes making sure they receive plenty of sunlight, checking soil daily for moisture content, and trimming dead or damaged foliage to help keep the plants healthy. 

Core aeration and why you need it.

It's been a scorcher! With record-breaking temperatures this summer and little rainfall, your lawn may be a bit parched, possibly suffering from drought stress and/or insect damage. Prepare it for next spring now by completing fall core aeration.

What is core aeration?

Simply put, core aeration is the process of mechanically removing small ½ to ¾-inch size plugs of soil, typically 1-6 inches deep from your lawn by using a mechanical drum machine with individual tines.

Why is it necessary?

Core aeration will increase water, nutrient and oxygen movement into the soil. All three elements are necessary for maintaining a strong, healthy root system.

How often should I aerate?

Generally, home lawns benefit from annual core aeration. Different soil types can require more frequent aeration.

When should I aerate my lawn?

If you are only aerating once a year, the best time for cool-season lawns is September to October. This is when lawns are coming out of summer dormancy and beginning a period of vigorous growth. Lawns will recover quickly from aeration at this time and competition from weeds is also minimal.

What happens after my lawn is aerated?

Once your lawn has been aerated, you will notice small plugs of soil throughout the grass. These plugs will break down naturally over time in the next few weeks and roots will gradually fill the holes where the plugs of soil were removed.  This is a sign that your lawn is receiving the additional oxygen, moisture and nutrients it craved.

Pergolas . . .  what are they good for?

As I was sitting amongst a group of friends last evening, one asked, “Why do people have pergolas? What are they even good for?” I found myself immediately defending the pergola as if its feelings were hurt by the question!  Here are my top three “what are they good for” reasons.

1. Pergolas are used to frame important features. You want something to be notice - a hot tub, an entertainment space, an outdoor kitchen - all of these are perfect landscape feature candidates for a pergola. These strong vertical elements grab attention and direct your guest to areas of importance.

2. Pergolas are used for shade. Not only does the framework itself provide shade, but plants can be trained to grow on the pergola creating a garden oasis.

3. Pergolas are used as sculptural elements in a landscape. Many pergolas are custom built by craftsmen and have beautiful details that can add interest to a landscape when nothing is in bloom.

Mulch vs Stone

Which side are you on?

Yard work . . . there, we said it. Those picture-perfect landscapes don't maintain themselves and we're certain mulch installation is on your list this spring.

Here are the pros and cons on the mulch vs stone divide. 

Mulch 

Pros:

-Adds organic matter to your soil as it decomposes

-Helps retain moisture in the soil

-Less expensive than stone

-Easier to install since it weighs less than stone

-Softer and easier to walk on

-Multiple varieties available (Hardwood, Pine, Dyed, Cedar)

Cons:

-Must be installed every 1-2 years

-Color can fade, especially in areas exposed to direct sunlight

-Can wash away

-Can host unsightly slime mold

Stone

Pros:

-Needs to be refreshed occasionally. 

-Large selection of colors, shapes, and sizes

-Stays in place more effectively

-Less fading from weather elements

Cons:

-More expensive than mulch 

-More difficult to install due to weight

-Weed barrier fabric should be installed underneath

-Edge restraint is needed to keep stone and yard areas separate

-Trendy varieties can lose popularity and become difficult to match in the future

-Even with weed barrier fabric weeds can still develop on top of the fabric

-Plant replacement and installation is more laborsome 

No matter which product you choose, keeping your mulch and stone refreshed adds to the beauty and value of your landscape.