Celebrating Hawks 150th Season

We welcome Spring as we proudly celebrate 150 years in business. Hawks is in full swing designing and booking landscape projects for the season. If you have a project in mind and would like to get on our schedule give us a call at 414-258-5525, send us an email or fill out our contact request form today! We look forward to working with you!

Hawks History: A Look Back in Time

Did You KNOW??

• Hawks 40-acre nursery at the corner of 91st and North Ave was tilled by horse drawn cultivators (see images).

• Hawks three horses were named Tom, Claude and Belle.

• Hawks horses were used not only to till the nursery fields, but were also hitched to wagons which hauled the nursery stock to the railroad station in Wauwatosa, (then Elm Grove) for shipping throughout the country.

• Shipping operations were overseen by Charles Hawks Jr., born in Rochester, New York, after he graduated from the University of Rochester in 1916.

• Charles Jr. joined the U.S. Army upon America’s entry into World War I, and re-joined his father’s company after his Army service.

April Turf Tips

Time to get out and rake that lawn! Snow cover tends to mat down the lawn, and raking your grass loosens it up and allows air flow to dry your lawn out after a long winter. This can help prevent fungal diseases such as snow mold and reduces the amount of thatch in your turf. Voles, a mouse-like critter, can create a lot of surface damage to your lawn. Don't worry about this; voles do not damage the plant, but simply eat the tops and not the crown of the grass plant as they tunnel through your lawn. Simply rake up the debris. The turf will recover on its own. Applying a spring fertilizer to your lawn will help. If need be, choose a lawn food that also contains a pre-emergent crabgrass control. In general, the best time to apply crabgrass preventer is between the end of March until the first weekend in May (before the soil reaches a temperature of 58-degrees). Once the soil is too warm, the weed seeds have already germinated and the pre-emergent is ineffective. Ensure your lawn mower blade is sharp, the oil is changed and that the mower is cleaned and ready to go. Grass grows quickly in spring! Mow the lawn often enough so that you are removing no more than one third of the blades of grass at a time. This will help reduce stress on the grass plants.

April Landscape & Garden Tips

• Remove leaves and debris from plant beds and lawn and cut back remaining perennials and grasses.

• Apply lawn fertilizer with pre-emergent crabgrass killer now. This step establishes the foundation for a healthy, vigorous lawn throughout the year. This can be done anytime the soil is thawed from the end of March until the first weekend of May.

• Core aerate your lawn or have our Hawks maintenance team do it for you. Core aerating reduces compaction, increases oxygenation and promotes healthy microorganisms which in turn create a greener, thicker lawn with less thatch.

• Remove protective material from roses and other plants.

• Start planting trees, shrubs and perennials. Fertilize your existing ones.

• Dig and divide mature perennials as needed.

• Apply a pre-emergent weed killer (similar to Preen) in landscape beds and sprinkle slug bait around hostas to prevent a severe infestation later in the season.

• Start seeding lettuce, radish, carrots, spinach and other cold-tolerant vegetable seeds in your garden.

• Plant pansies and other cold-tolerant annuals for instant color.

• Plant your dahlias and gladiolus bulbs.

• Now is the time to meet with our landscape designers and develop a customized outdoor plan for yourself. Our spring schedule is booking fast!

Please note: the timing of many of these tips is approximate and can vary greatly depending on a variety of factors. If you have any questions, please contact a Hawks Landscape Designer or Maintenance representative at 414-258-5525.

Why Mulch?

New mulch makes a tired landscape look fresh and new. Not only does it upgrade your landscape, it has many other benefits. Mulch helps keep weeds down and reduces water loss. Most people mulch once a year or every other year. Use caution when putting it down: make sure you do not have more than 4-inches of mulch and keep mulch away from the trunks of trees. When used properly, mulch gives your landscape a fresh look and helps your plants thrive. Visit hawkslandscape.com for info and tips! If you're not a do-it-yourselfer, Hawks provides mulching and lawn care services. Give our maintenance department a call at 414-258-5525 if you wish to have it done for you.

Hawks is Hiring!

Wanted: Landscape Design, Construction, Maintenance Personnel

We're gearing up for another robust season! If you enjoy working outdoors, appreciate beautiful gardens, and love working with customers, consider joining our team! We are looking to expand all departments and have many open positions in Landscape Design, Construction and Maintenance: hardscape foremen and technicians, mow crews, diesel mechanics, bed care/nursery and landscape design/sales personnel wanted.

While applicants who possess a background in horticulture and/or the landscape trades are preferred, those that are professional, friendly and enthusiastic about joining a team of committed individuals are especially welcome. Check out Hawks' Employment Opportunities to view our job openings and download our employment application. Apply today!

HAWKS LANDSCAPE INC.

12217 West Watertown Plank Road • Wauwatosa | 414•258•5525 | hawkslandscape.com