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 Summer Newsletter |
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SUMMER LANDSCAPE TIPS
Turf
Fescue turf, widely used in the Charlotte area, is a cool season grass that does not like or perform well in humid and hot weather. To keep fescue in best shape until fall, water only in the morning hours to the equivalent of one inch per week. Night watering can encourage Brown Patch fungus development. Preventative fungicide applications will keep fungus under control. If you haven't already done so, increase your mowing height to 4 inches. This will shield turf roots from brutal sun and decrease weed seed germination rates.
Landscape Beds
July is a good month to catch up on weeding and mulching your landscape areas. With all the rain we have had since November, the weeds have been abundant. Get an early start in the morning and hand pull these garden nuisances; they actually come up relatively easy when the ground is moist. If you last mulched your beds at the first of the year, they may need top dressing. A three-inch layer of mulch is all you need. More than that is detrimental to the plants creating an environment for disease and insect infestation. Speaking of the environment, you may have seen mushrooms sprouting overnight in your yard. These, for the most part, are harmless. Mushrooms are a harmless fungus, but do not eat this type!
August: Prep for Fall
Hopefully, you will have time to enjoy your yard this summer in between vacation and afternoon showers. Take note of plants that have done well in spite of the irregular weather. Make sure water is getting to plants and beds correctly. Just a day or two of really hot weather can cause a plant to wilt. Remember what we said about fescue and hot weather. August can be brutal. Prep your lawn at your leisure to get ready for fall renovation.You may need to fill in a rut or pot hole with topsoil.
There may be an area that is running wild with Bermuda grass, go ahead a kill that area with a non-selective herbicide (using manufacturer's labeling instructions) Dethatch any areas that have heavy build up of dead grass. You want the seed to be in direct contact with the soil.
If you have time this summer, take part in some of the fun and educational garden events offered through Wing Haven or Daniel Stowe Botanical Garden. |
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the value of your landscape
It is hard not to smile when you encounter beauty...a blooming flower, a butterfly,  a cardinal, the first budding trees of spring, and when you drive up to your home when the grass has just been mowed. Our homes are among our most important personal and financial investments. We spend money upgrading, painting, remodeling, and fixing over the years. That investment should also include landscapes because there is a close association between the yard and the home. Both can increase in value over time. While interior decor and design might become dated and mechanical systems wear down, plants grow fuller and more robust and mature well if maintained over the years.
People tend to associate a beautiful yard with a warm and inviting home. A Houzz & Home Survey showed that those who remodeled the exterior of their home in the last five years were most likely to add a new lawn, plants or trees (64%); a new deck or patio (46%); grading/leveling/terracing of yard (32%); new fencing (29%); new structure like a shed, pergola or arbor (24%).
National Garden Association's Lawn and Landscape Service and the Value of Landscaping Survey revealed Americans' attitudes towards their yards. The survey showed that most homeowners believe a well-designed and maintained landscape adds 10% to 19% to their home's value. The most common benefits cited by 94% of those surveyed were that it provides a place of beauty and relaxation for the family, beautifies the neighborhood, reflects positively on the homeowner, and adds value and curb appeal to the home.
 In other words, a landscape can be functional and attractive. The American Society of Landscape Architects (ASLA) recommends that homeowners invest 10 percent of the home's value in landscaping. Landscape architecture goes beyond plantings, or softscaping, to include structural features like lighting, fences, garden paths, fire pits, swimming pools, and ponds. Outdoor rooms, terraces, and decks are also high-yield structural or hardscaping investments. Start with a simple plan and stick to it. Stay in tune with your greenscape (trees, shrubs, lawn, flowers) and hardscape (the more permanent, nonliving sections of your yard such as walkways, paths, walls, fences, decks, and buildings). Keep in mind the immediate and long-term impact of your selections. Choose trees and shrubs that you like, but that will also look good when installed and won't outgrow their location in five years. Select native plants that grow naturally without taking over the yard and can provide a natural transition from surrounding areas. Choose trees, shrubs, and flowers that will be attractive in more than one season and will thrive in your soil and sun conditions, and apply fertilizer, water and weed beds, and apply mulch at appropriate time to insure longer and healthy life.
Regular maintenance outside (similar to that done inside) assures the best results in spite of weather, pests, or unexpected events such as a fallen tree. A weekly dose of attention is more cost effective than waiting until a potentially expensive problem arises. At Barringer & Barringer, Inc. Landscape Services we provide consistent labor, equipment, materials and supervision by insured and experienced crew members who know their yards and take pride in their work. All work is performed in accordance with standard horticultural practices, using modern techniques accepted by the landscape industry. We bring value to each job by adhering to weekly and monthly schedules for each contracted service in and off season, January through December. Every landscape is different, so we also offer value-added services such as seasonal irrigation programs, irrigation repair, aeration and seeding, annual color programs, fungicide applications, mulch program, and specialty pruning and treatments. We make every effort to provide reliable, efficient, and professional service for every client whether for routine maintenance or special projects.
Good landscaping can add up to 28% to the overall value of a house, says landscape economist John Harris, and cut its time on the market 10% to 15%. Even taking your landscaping to the next level, upgrading from "good" to "excellent," in terms of design, condition, and placement, can add 6% to 7% to a home's value, according to a Clemson University study. |
 Meet THE TEAM: Jamie Kent Jamie Tomasek Kent joined Barringer & Barringer, Inc. in 2006. Jamie serves as Office Manager and Horticulturist. She received a B.S. in Biology from the University of Wisconsin. Jamie has an extraordinary landscape background with 25 years retail garden center management experience, NC Pesticide License, graduate studies in Wildlife Biology, and she completed the UNCC Botanical Gardens Native Plant Certification in 2011. Jamie is our go-to person for all billing, plant, bird, and insect questions. Jamie was born in Oshkosh, Wisconsin, and grew up in Omro, Wisconsin. Jamie and husband Dennis reside in Indian Trail. Her hobbies include gardening with emphasis on native plants, cooking, reading, and birdwatching. We are fortunate that Jamie is sharing photos of her favorite plants with us this summer on our FaceBook page. Take a look and comment on her photos posted in Jamie's Favorites Album. See if you can identify any the pictures below:    
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There shall be eternal summer in the grateful heart. ~ Celia Thaxter |
| 235 West Liddell Street Charlotte, North Carolina, 28206 Phone 704.335.3775 Fax704.335.3774 |
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