Are you looking for ways to spruce up your outdoor areas? There are many different ways you can enhance your backyard landscaping in Denver. In addition, there are many types of ways to incorporate entertaining spaces to make your space even more livable. By making even small investments in your home and surroundings, you can create long term gains in the overall value of your property.

Learn about the different types of outdoor furniture to incorporate in your space, backyard activity ideas, and best landscaping upgrades to make:

Types of Outdoor Furniture

When considering adding outdoor furniture, a great place to start is to ask yourself what look and feel is important to you. It is also critical to consider what type of functionality you will need with new outdoor furniture. For many, a dining area with an umbrella to shade yourself from the sun is a great investment. You can find tables that seat anywhere from four to eight chairs. For the winter months, consider investing in some cozy chairs, blankets, and a firepit for all-weather gatherings. 

Host large gatherings often? Consider adding a few tables for a sit-down meal. You can even add in a picnic table which is of course, great for children. If you will spend more time resting and relaxing in your backyard, add couches, chaises, and lounge chairs. High-tech shades or Pergolas are also an option, that you can roll backwards or forwards to block the sun or provide cover. To get ideas for styles, review Better Homes and Garden’s patio furniture buying guide.

Backyard Activities

With Denver’s spectacular weather throughout the year, you will be able to take advantage of many sunny days to enjoy backyard activities. In addition, with a fire pit, you can enjoy the cool evenings all year long. Depending on the neighborhood you live in (homeowner’s associations), you can install an in-ground pool. If a pool is too much maintenance, don’t worry, there are other great activities to choose from and incorporate. Purchase a corn hole set that you can bring out to have fun with family and friends. Try your hand at bocce ball, which is a game that can be enjoyed by many, and is quite the leisurely pastime. For other lounging ideas, consider adding a hammock that you can relax in while others play games.

Landscaping Upgrades

If you will use your backyard for activity and lounging purposes, you can still incorporate landscaping to liven up the space. Add garden beds along the side of your home with flowers and shrubs that add a pop of color. If you have a large backyard on a sloped surface, you can add a tiered arrangement that will help to separate plants.  Water features such as waterfalls, ponds, and even pondless water features can add a tranquil element to your landscapes overall atmosphere.  Through this, you can add a retention wall which will aid in the drainage of water. You can also use shrubs and flower gardens as a way to direct people to various areas in your backyard, or even provide sitting areas. If you are new to the idea of updating your backyard, be sure you begin your landscaping with these ideas from your tree service company.

To help you create the perfect backyard oasis, contact American Arbor Care. Whether you have your own ideas or need assistance coming up with a creative concept, we are here to find the perfect trees, plants, flowers, and shrubs that will work in your space. Contact American Arbor Care in Denver, CO today at 303-639-8584 today to get started.

Winter is coming, but you might have some final landscaping tasks that you should get done as we enter the colder months.Common questions often arise, like – is it okay to plant in the fall? Is it better to wait? Many homeowners ask themselves these questions, and we can help answer them for you. You are already one step ahead by doing your research of your local tree service company so you do not put time and energy into things that will not make it through the season.

Learn about planting in the fall, landscaping do’s, and landscaping don’ts as you prepare for the cold season:

Planting in the Fall

Many homeowners wonder if they can expand their gardens and landscaping by planting in the fall. Is it a good idea? Can you plant in the fall?

The answer is yes! Fall can actually be a great time to plant.

The weather is not as warm and the soil has a great environment to encourage growth. The key is making sure you plant a little over five weeks before the season’s first major frost hits. So, if you are planting food, check the harvest schedule to see how long it will take to root, and if it will be before your area is set to get their first hard frost.

For plants, you will want to do something similar. Look to see how long it will take to grow and do the math. This is something a local tree and landscaping company can assist with to ensure you are choosing the right plants, flowers, food, trees, and more. Fall-planted bulbs and corms are some of the best items you can plant in the fall.

Landscaping Dos

To aid in planting and to help your lawn prepare for the winter, you will need to aerate it. This is the process of pulling 2-3″ plugs out of the turf grass areas increasing oxygen, moisture, and nutrients, while also reducing the thatch layer.  We recommend aerations be completed at least once annually.

Fall is also time to blow out your sprinklers once you know you will no longer be watering your lawn for the season. As the temperatures get cooler, and depending on rain in the area, your grass will not need as much water as it did in the summer. However, continue to water lawns and landscaping until late fall. Be sure to review additional fall watering and winterization tips for your Denver landscaping for fall to ensure you know how to care for your space.  During dry periods be sure to check your landscaping and turf areas for dryness.  Spider mites enjoy our warm dry periods over the winter months and can cause severe damage to turf areas.  Our drying winter winds can lead to tree, shrub, and turfgrass desiccation.

Landscaping Don’ts

The biggest landscaping “don’t” is not doing your research before making a decision to plant. You need to know what conditions the plant needs and set a timeline. While many trees, plants, shrubs, etc., can be planted in the fall, it might not be a great idea for some.

If you are unsure or have concerns, talk to a professional landscaping company you can trust. For your lawn, many continue to mow on the same setting as they did in the summer. Instead, you will need to mow your lawn with a higher blade setting. This will allow the ground to keep in more moisture.

For all of your fall planting needs, American Arbor Care can help. Our team of certified and professional arborists will help you invest your dollars in the right areas. Contact us today at 303-639-8584 to discuss your fall planting plans.

Looking for a way to enhance your landscape? A great idea this fall is to liven it up by adding pollinators into your outdoor spaces. While many look to bees as being the pollinator, there are many plants and trees that can be incorporated to serve as pollinators for your landscape. Many insects (other than bees) are actually pollinators as well. Learn more about what pollination is, the benefits of plants that pollinate this beautiful Denver landscape, and different pollinating plants and trees that you can add.

What is Pollination?

Pollination is when pollen from a plant or flower is transported from the male part of the plant to the female part. Through this process, plants are able to create seeds, which in turn can be used to make more plants. When it comes to pollinating, there are two different types of plants that have two separate ways of pollination. The first way is through self-pollination, and the second is through cross-pollination. The latter means pollen is transported by weather, bees, or another type of carrier. In either case, once the process is done, seeds are created.  

Benefits of Plants that Pollinate

There are many benefits of having plants or flowers in a landscape or garden that produce long term results. Plants that pollinate also help to provide cleaner air in your environment. They also help to keep a landscape healthy for the soil, water, and other elements surrounding the plant. When there are plants in your landscape, it can produce a higher yield for the other plants in a garden as well. When you have different pollinators in a lawn, make sure you talk to your local arborist and landscaping specialist about what you can use in your garden or landscape to deter pests. Many pesticides are harmful to pollinators and it’s best to properly care for them, so they can care for your landscape! Learn more about the pollination of tree fruits from Colorado State University.

Pollinating Plants and Trees

If you are looking for plants or trees that are good pollinators, there are many options to incorporate in your garden. One of the top types of pollinators are sunflowers. These gorgeous flowers will do wonders to help the soil and environment around your home and help your overall landscape thrive. Another great pollinating flower to add is lavender. They are appealing flowers that will help provide a pleasant fragrance around your home where you have them planted. Yarrows are another colorful addition that provide a bold and unique appearance, all while helping to pollinate the garden and landscaping around your home.

As you plan to make additions to your landscape or garden, American Arbor Care can help. Our team of experts will help you find plants that will pollinate your lawn and create an overall healthier environment. Looking to create a vibrant introduction to fall? Color for your fall landscape in Denver is a great way to spruce up the outside of your home. No matter what your landscaping needs are, we are here to help. Contact us today at 303-639-8584 to get started. Whether your changes are large or small, we will assist with all of your landscape needs.

While pruning is important and beneficial, it is important to know when and how much to prune throughout the year. As you mulch and make your final landscaping arrangements for the year, this information can make or break your landscaping for the next season. Learn the benefits of pruning, tips and tricks for tree trimming in Denver, plus additional fall care tips to make sure are on your agenda before winter.

Why and When to Prune

Pruning is essential to the vitality of trees or shrubs. Through this process of cutting off damaged or dying stems or branches, you eliminate the risk of disease and other issues from infiltrating the entire tree. By keeping these parts of the plants removed, the overall health of the plant will be well and you can maintain your investment. Some perennials and other plants struggle with winter and can be prepared by fall pruning. Based upon where trees & shrubs do the majority of their storage, fall and winter prunings will stimulate spring growth.

Pruning and Trimming Tips

Your goal will be to cut off any dead or dying branches, as well as anything that is overgrown. As you prune branches, you want to keep any areas that have leaves off them, and should make cuts at a very slight slant with some space from your cut and the leaf. It is also want to make sure that you are not pruning into the branch collar, the area where the base of a branch joins/connects to another branch or the trunk. When pruning, in addition to cutting dead branches, you can also remove branches from the bottom of the tree or shrub to accommodate your landscaping. You can also thin out your trees and shrubs to help with airflow. For larger jobs with your trees, it is always best to contact an expert to ensure safety and accuracy. Get a full array of information on for training and pruning fruit trees, learn from the Colorado State University.

Additional Fall Care Tips

While you need to keep your pruning to a minimum during the fall, there are other landscaping tasks you need to make sure you handle this fall. First, help your grass and trees have enough nutrients by seeding and fertilizing. With extra seeds and fertilizer, your roots will get what they need to thrive during the winter and be healthy in the spring. Make sure you plan on starting your deep fall fertilization for landscaping in Denver now.

From tree trimming to pruning, American Arbor Care can help your plants and trees last throughout the winter. Our 20 years in the industry will provide you with the expertise to keep your landscaping thriving in the winter and into the spring. We currently offer 10% off winter pruning through March 1. Call us at 303-639-8584 today to get started.

While you might start to mentally check out from your landscaping task list as the cooler months settle in, fall is actually a key time to care for your lawn. This will ensure that it survives the winter and your investment stays intact! Having had a dry season, there are things Denver homeowners will need to do as they prepare their landscape for the winter. Learn how dry climates affect landscaping for the winter, tips for a fall watering schedule, and when you need to prepare for your sprinkler winterization from your local Denver tree service company.

How Dry Climate Effects Landscaping in the Winter

Did you know that a dry summer and fall can impact your lawn and landscaping for the winter? If your lawn has been brown or struggling without as much water, it is important to give it the TLC it needs before winter sets in. If you don’t, unfortunately this will not mean great things next spring and you will have to make some investments to help bring it back. This is why helping your lawn and landscaping in the fall after the dry climate is key. First, talk to your local arborist on how much water your lawn will need. This will help you avoid over or under watering. Next, fertilize. This is something you would need to do anyway in the fall, but especially now given the circumstances. For more tips and information on how your landscaping can be affected, read Colorado State University’s fall and winter watering guide.

Fall Watering Schedule

When it comes to your fall watering schedule, you will need to continue to water your lawn, landscaping, trees, shrubs, etc., until temperatures are consistently below 40 degrees. After talking to your local arborist on how much water your lawn needs based on how much it has been impacted by the dry weather, make sure you are watering before 10 a.m unless winter temperatures are above 55 degrees. When watering too late in the day, you run the risk of actually hurting and not helping your landscaping as water does not seep into the ground properly. Also, once you near your last few mows of the season, make sure to lower the blades. For more tips on keeping your Denver lawn healthy, use these four fall and winter watering tips.  

Sprinkler Winterization

Fall is also the top time to talk to your local landscaping company on sprinkler winterization. While you need to continue watering your lawn now, you need to plan for the cooler temperatures. If your sprinkler system is not winterized before winter, you run the risk of your pipes freezing and cracking.

From helping you determine how much your water needs, to other ways to prepare your lawn and landscaping for winter, American Arbor Care can help. Our team of experts will review your area to ensure you are prepared for the season! Be sure to check out our American Arbor Care special offers to help you get the most savings. To get started, call us today at 303-639-8584.

Fall has arrived! While months away, before you know it, it will be time to put up holiday lighting and decorations. Now is the perfect time to begin to make your plans on how you will arrange your landscaping, lighting, and décor for the holidays. By making plans ahead of time, you will potentially save yourself valued time and money, as well as make the process easier when it is time to get the job done. Learn some new tips and ideas for your holiday lighting and decorations, ways to maintain your energy bills, and when to use assistance from local tree pros.

Tips and Ideas

When adding décor to your home for the holidays, more is not always better?

When cluttering your lawn with decorations and lighting, it can be overwhelming. Instead, look at what you currently have to work with and see how you can enhance them through lighting and décor.

For instance, add extra lighting around entry ways, sidewalks, and bushes. If you have a mailbox along the street, use some natural décor to dress it up, such as evergreens, ribbons and pinecones.

Many of these items you can find at your local home goods store. Or, if you have existing lawn decorations, find ways to add lighting and decorations to play them up. Make sure you to put your own personal spin on it to help your décor reflect your personality for the home’s overall look and feel.

Maintaining Energy Bills

With the holidays can come increased energy bills. This is often due to additional lighting outdoors, but also indoors as well. If you haven’t already, make sure you switch to using LED lighting, as they can use up to 90 percent less electricity.

Inside your home, to help with your heating bill, you can set your home to a lower temperature during the day. Once you are home, you can turn it back up—which will help to cut costs.

As you look for lighting and other decorations that require power, look for the ENERGY STAR label. For more ideas on how to decorate without breaking the bank, review The Balance’s guide on how to save energy during the holidays.

Assistance from Local Landscaping Companies

When putting up your lighting and decorations, safety is the top priority. If you do not feel comfortable or have the proper equipment, you may want to consider getting assistance hanging up your outdoor décor.

For lighting, you can work with an expert that has the tools and equipment to help you arrange your lighting. This will allow you to focus on more important areas and let the experts handing the hard work.

As you make plans for your holiday lighting, American Arbor Care can help with your holiday lighting installation in Denver. From custom designs to taking items down and lighting, we can help you safely and efficiently handle your holiday lighting and décor. We can also help with your year-end landscaping maintenance as well to help your lawn be prepared for spring. Call us today at 303-639-8584 to get started.

As we transition into the fall months, it is important to change the way you manage your lawn. With the change in seasons comes a different need for the way your lawn is treated. This will help to keep your lawn and landscaping protected throughout the winter and help them thrive come spring. As you prepare your Denver landscaping for fall, be sure to learn about the importance of sprinkler winterization, watering tips, and additional fall maintenance information.

Sprinkler Winterization

While winter may seem far away, fall is the time to make your plans for your landscaping. One of the top things to consider is sprinkler winterization. When you winterize your sprinkler system, this is the process to ensure there is no water left in your irrigation pipes that can freeze over the winter months. Failure to get the water out can lead to pipes cracking and your system breaking. To protect your investment, it is best to winterize your pipes. During this process, an expert will come in and make sure all water is removed from pipes.

Watering Tips

As fall sets in, you will need to make changes to the way you water your landscape. Not only will this help get your landscaping through winter, but also helps to prevent mites that can wreak havoc underground. According to Colorado State University’s fall and winter watering guide, you will need to water your lawn until the temperatures are colder than 40 degrees. Until then, they advise to water your lawn in the middle of the day to allow there to be plenty of time for the ground to absorb the water. Anything later in the day can be problematic. If the area you live in is windy or there are few trees to block sunlight, you may need to water your lawn even more.

Additional Fall Maintenance

Throughout the winter months, if not cared for properly, roots in plants can dry out. By properly watering your lawn and mulching before the winter season kicks in, you can help to ensure your landscaping makes it through the winter. In addition, you will need to continue to mow your lawn and as you near time to put your mower away for the season, make sure you cut the grass extra short. Clean up fallen leaves, repurposing those from healthy trees as mulch and discarding those from diseased trees. Leaf clean up and short grass will help the lawn get more sunlight. Next, talk to your local arborist on how to fertilize your lawn and landscaping. They may suggest anti-desiccant sprays in the winter on evergreens to help prevent excessive moisture loss.

By accomplishing these tasks this fall, you will help to make your landscaping thrive next spring. With as much of an investment this is, you won’t want to waste your own hard-earned money and work you put into your space! Be sure to read about the top five ways to prepare your Denver landscaping this fall. To help you with all of your fall watering and landscaping needs, American Arbor Care can help. Our team of experts will help you with the amount of water you will need and help you create a plan to help your lawn survive the winter. To see how we can help with any tree, shrub, lawn, or landscaping services, contact us today at 303-639-8584.

With fall setting in, now is the time to begin preparing your landscape for fall to help keep your plants, trees, flowers, and lawn healthy over the winter months. By taking the time to prepare your landscaping now, you can rest assured this winter knowing you did everything you could to protect the investment that you put into the outside of your home. Learn more about your next steps for fall fertilization, changes you will need to make to your watering schedule and mowing, and mulching tips to help you prepare your landscaping in Denver.

Fall Fertilization

Fall is a crucial time to fertilize your lawn and landscape plants to help them stay healthy and come back in the spring, after the long, cold winter. Make plans to fertilize at the end of September or early October to help your landscaping recover from any issues it had over the warmer summer months. You can also look into nitrogen treatments that can be injected into your soil for trees and shrubs. When fertilizing and nitrogen treating your soil, make sure you have mowed the lawn, and cleaned up the area by removing any loose leaves, sticks, and more. Learn more about fertilizing cool season grasses and grass from Colorado State University. Fall nitrogen applications to lawn areas assists the grass with nutrient storage over the winter.

Changes to Watering and Mowing

As fall sets in, make arrangements to have your sprinkler system winterized if you have a system. This will help to eliminate all water in the system so your pipes to do crack. This will be one of the last things you do this fall though, as your lawn will still need watered before winter. You can begin to scale back on the amount you water, and make sure you water in the morning before 10 a.m. The later in the day you water, it will not soak into the soil as well and if sitting near the surface and stick to grass blades which can cause damage down the road. As you plan to wrap up your mowing, you will need to mow your grass until temperatures are consistently under 40 to 50 degrees. In your last couple mows for the year, make your mower trim the grass to be shorter.  

Mulch

When doing fall leaf cleanup, throw away leaves from trees that are diseased and repurpose leaves from trees that are healthy. In addition to fertilizing your lawn before winter, you will also need to mulch. This will also help to keep your landscaping healthy throughout the winter. Before you mulch, make sure to remove the old mulch and any debris in the area. Also, be sure to pull any weeds. When choosing a mulch, make sure you choose an organic mulch that will help provide nutrients to your soil. You can also learn tips from your Denver tree service to prevent fall pests as you finalizing your landscaping for the year.

To help with all of your fall landscaping needs, American Arbor Care will help. Our certified, professional arborists will help you with fertilize your lawn and landscaping to help you have healthy plants and trees next spring. Contact us today at 303-639-8584 to get started with your fall landscaping plans.

When it comes to the trees in your yard, how much do you know about what is best for your landscaping? It all can depend on what you would like the overall look to be in your landscaping and how much time you will have to care for. As you get started, there are a few key things to know before you purchase trees. Learn about tree selection for your landscaping, planting and placement tips, and tree trimming in Denver.

Tree Selection

Choosing the right tree for your landscaping is important. Why? Once it grows, you need to make sure the area is capable to handle the tree once it has reached full maturity. You also have to consider what is in your neighborhood, and if you are a part of a homeowner’s association, that you have the ability to plant new trees. You also need to purchase trees that are sustainable. For Denver, fruit trees and evergreens are some of the best trees to plant. They are compatible with the climate and changes in the area. In addition, pine, spruce, maple and oak are some of the best for the Colorado weather and climate. It is best to talk to a local arborist to evaluate your soil and area to help you choose the best trees that will thrive in your yard.  Check with your individual city for code allowances.

Planting and Placement Tips

If you are in the market to purchase new trees, you are in luck on timing. According to Colorado State University’s recommended trees for Colorado Front Range communities, the ideal times to plant trees are from September 1 to October 15 or March 15 through June 15. They also advise to plant a tree at the top of the root ball just above the ground level and set the root ball on solid ground. They also do not recommend fertilization when planting a new tree. In addition, when planting trees, take into consideration how tall the tree will grow and will anything be in the way? How wide will it be and will it fit in the space when fully mature? Also, if you are putting the tree near walkways, will there be leaves or fruit that will fall and create issues on walkways? You will need to consider that before choosing a tree. We do recommend adding a root stimulant when planting.

Tree Trimming

Keeping trees trimmed at certain times of year are important to your tree’s overall health and growth. Through the process of removing dying or dead branches, you will help to protect your tree from damage that may further damage the tree. When you trim the tree, you will help to reduce any decay due to disease. As you learn more about caring for your trees, read how the Denver tree pros debunk the most common tree pruning and trimming myths.
As you gear up to plant more trees in your lawn, American Arbor Care will help you every step of the way. From plants and shrubs, to trees, we will help you identify the ideal trees compatible with your lawn, the best places to plant them and how to care for them. To get started, call us at 303-639-8584.

Can you believe summer will be coming to a close soon? Fall will set in on Friday, September 22, 2017. With a new season means routine maintenance for your lawn and landscaping. In fact, it is crucial that you take all the appropriate steps during the fall to ensure your landscaping survives and thrives after winter. From fertilizing, mulching, and pest/weed prevention, and when to call the expert, use these top five tips to prepare your Denver landscaping this fall.

Fertilize, fertilize, fertilize

Fall is the prime time for deep root fertilization. During deep root fertilization, your plants and trees will have a nutrient solution injected into their root zone along with a drink of water. This is beneficial during the winter as opposed to just fertilizing on the surface. Early fall is the best time to have your local arborist handle this for you. Through this, you will help to improve microbial activity, oxygen, nutrient levels in the winter, and drought and storm resistance.

Mulch

To help maintain your plants’ gorgeous appearance, make a note to mulch this fall. By mulching in the fall, you will help to keep away any weeds that will infiltrate your landscaping in the winter and become pesky in the spring. Mulch also assists in regulating soil temperature and reduces the heaving of soil during periods of freezing and thawing. Make sure when mulching that you are using an organic type of mulch as it breaks down to provide additional nutrients. Be sure to review what CSU has to say about the benefits of organic mulches for more information. If you are unsure of what is best and want to protect your plants and trees over the winter, contact a landscaping specialist.

Pest and Weed Prevention

Fall is a crucial time to handle pest and weed prevention. It is important to not encourage growth or damage by being proactive. The more weeds you can pull now, the less trouble you will have with them next year. You will want to make sure to be watering early in the morning as winter approaches. While you will need to water less in the winter, make sure that you are taking advantage of warmer days to hydrate the soil. You will also want to make sure you deter unwanted pests from your landscaping, too. Raking leaves in a timely manner will go a long way. At the first sign of any problems, reach out to your local landscaping company for help.

Call in the Experts

If you are interested in planting a tree this fall, please schedule an appointment with one of our certified arborist to assist you with your tree selection. At any point this fall, you may run into some issues with your plants. Given how critical the timing is to get right, it is important to ask for help when you need it. You can even reach out when you are not sure. This is ideal to keep in mind so you do not lose the investment you made on your plants, shrubs, and trees.

For help with all of your fall landscaping needs, American Arbor Care is here to help. With over 20 years of experience, you can count on our expertise to help your lawn survive the winter and thrive next spring. To get started, call us at 303-639-8584.