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.

Can you believe we are in the middle of summer? Have you taken a look at your lawn to see how it’s performing? Now is a great time to assess your lawn and any landscaping changes you need to make before fall hits. One of the most common issues homeowners have with their landscaping is issues with watering. This is why it is important to stick with a watering schedule and learn watering tips so you do not over or under water your lawn. Learn more about tips for watering your lawn, signs that you are using too much or too little water, and reasons to use a Denver landscaping company to enhance your lawn.

Tips for Watering Your Lawn

Watering your lawn is extremely important to keep it healthy and green.

The best time to water your lawn in the mornings is no later than 10 a.m. because the water has the most time to soak up in the grass. When done later in the day or in the evening, it does not soak up as well and can often create the growth of fungus.

When it comes to the amount of water, you do not want to use too much or too little. Typically, you can water your grass a couple times a week to give it about one to one and a half inches of water.

It is also necessary to factor in rainwater totals. You will want to monitor using the signs below to see if you are watering too much or too little and modify your amount accordingly. If your lawn is primarily in the shade, you can actually water it even less, which should also help you to save on your water bill. For more information learn tips for watering your lawn the right way.

Signs of Overwatering

When it comes to finding the right amount of water for your lawn, it is crucial that you know the signs of over and under watering. If you give your lawn too much water, you will notice the overall feel of the grass and soil under will be squishy.

In addition, you may notice fungus growing because of the excess moisture on the grass blades. Over watering also promotes the growth of weeds and will bring in additional unwanted insects.

Signs of Underwatering

Signs that you are not giving your lawn enough water is a little easier to see. You will notice brown and yellow patches within your yard with grass blades that are brown and dying. Learn more about signs your lawn is not getting enough water by reading more about dry patches in your mid-summer Denver landscaping.

Using a Landscaping Service

As you work to make your lawn and landscaping the best it can be, consider using a local arborist to help. When taking advantage of their services, you can be sure that your lawn is getting enough water, and has a boost of curb appeal. (This also increases the overall value of your home—bonus!) If your lawn is struggling, fall is another great time to lay down sod. This is something your arborist and landscaper can review with you.

To help you with all of your landscaping needs, American Arbor Care is here to help. With over 20 years of experience, we will ensure your lawn and trees are in their best shape. See the latest American Arbor Care special offers and call us today at 303-639-8584 to see how we can help you.

As you work on your landscaping this summer, do you have all the tools you need? One of the best ways to ensure you are effectively and efficiently maintaining your yard, landscaping and plant beds is to have the right tools. This will make it easier to get the work done and is better for your lawn and plants. In addition, you will also be able to get a great return on your investment as these tools will help you maintain your landscaping in Denver for many years to come. From digging and transport items, to cutting, trimming and pruning, it is best to learn what you can do on your own and when to call the professionals. 

Digging and Transport

When digging into the ground, it is crucial to have the right tool for the job. For digging into untouched ground, make sure you have a shovel that is rounded with a point at the top. This allows for easy digging in the ground and lifting out of any dirt. If you have any trenches, you can invest in a trench shovel that is long and narrow. This unique shape is perfect for the task. There are also many instances where you will need to transport what you dig, such as dirt or mulch, so make sure you have invested in a reliable wheelbarrow.

Cutting, Trimming and Pruning

Trimming and pruning your landscape is important. This is why it is crucial to have a great pair of shears. While small, they can do great work for your plants and flowers. For pruning, you can also invest in pruners. These are more heavy duty than shears and can handle trimming off the larger part of plans. It is also important to have a lopper on-hand. While you may not need it every time you work in your landscape, it is helpful to have when you need something that will help to do major cutting in your landscape. For more tools, review Bob Vila’s 8 top tools for taming your landscape.

When to Call Professionals

When you work through your landscaping this summer and fall, it is important to know when to call in the professionals. When it comes to lawn care and fertilization services, if your lawn in struggling, July is too hot of a month to fertilize your grass. This is when a REVIVE application can help. Your local arborist and landscaping company can handle this to help with the breakdown of heavy clay soils and water penetration to the root system of grass plants. Next, if you have dying trees, it is important to call in experts. They can do trunk injections or provide disease management services to save your trees and extend their life. However, if you do need a tree or shrub removed, an arborist is the best option to use to safely remote it.

No matter what your landscaping needs are, American Arbor Care can help. As a team you can trust, we can help you with all of your questions and provide services to keep your landscaping in premier shape. Call us today at 303-639-8584 to see how we can help you.

When the warm season arrives, many homeowners know the drill: time to mulch! Mulching is an important aspect of landscaping. Not only does it look great, but it helps your trees, shrubs, flowers and more thrive. As you plan to handle some of your outdoor yard work, it’s important to understand the importance of mulch and the role it plays for your yard. Learn about the basics of mulching, ideal times each year to mulch, and dos and don’ts by Denver tree pros.

Basics of Mulching

Mulch is the first level of defense a plant, tree, shrub, etc. has against the elements.  It enhances everything that you do for your trees and shrubs. This is what it needs to get the proper amount of water and let it soak in. In addition, it also helps to keep weeds from sprouting. It allows for protection from compaction, weed eater/mower damage, moisture conservation and consistency, and temperature consistency.

Fewer weeds to pull is a win, right?

Mulch is also great to help your plants maintain the proper temperature. While you have a variety of types of mulch to use, organic ones are the best. This can be tree bark, shredded wood or compost manure. Compost manure should be hand tilled in to a depth of 4-6” and be sure that you are using well aged compost. Using organic mulch and not a synthetic mulch will help provide nutrients to your landscaping. There are also many benefits provided by mulch to the landscape and environment as the mulch breaks down.  Read more about mulches for home grounds.

Ideal Times per Year to Mulch

Late spring and early summer is an ideal time to mulch your landscaping. As you plan on purchasing mulch for the landscaping in your lawn, take into consideration how much you need. Know that you do not need to add a lot of mulch to your shrubs, trees, etc. While mulch plays an important role as a barrier and giver of nutrients, too much of it can suffocate your plants. You only want two to three inches of mulch. And keep in mind the amount of mulch or needle debris that currently exists under your trees.  Do not pack it down either. Three inches is the maximum you should do on your tree, shrub, and perennial beds, which you can discuss with a local arborist to see exactly how much you need. Prior to mulching, make sure you remove any existing mulch. It’s also important to remove any other debris or weeds. From there, you can add on the new layer.

Another reminder when mulching is to leave some room between the mulch and where the trunk or base of a tree of plant starts. Give it one to two inches around the base that’s mulch-free. Prior to mulching, do edge around the area you will be adding in the mulch. This will help reshape the area and will look great!
When it comes to handling mulch for your lawn this season, American Arbor Care has excellent lawn care and fertilization services to help your landscaping flourish. No matter what your needs are, we can help. Give us a call today at 303-639-8584 to get started on ways we can help!

Do you know the proper way to prune your blooming shrubs? What about the exact time of year? Improper care can lead to the downfall of your shrubs. To protect your investment, it is best to make sure you are caring for your plants properly. With just a little bit of work, you can ensure the care of your plants all season long. Learn more about the best times to prune after flowering, tips for pruning, and overall general care tips from your tree service company.

Tips for Pruning

Pruning is a crucial piece of maintaining the overall health of your plants. Pruning is the method of cutting of dead, dying or damaged branches and twigs. This helps to remove any infected parts of a plant. Pruning also helps to keep the overall health of the plant in good shape. Removing old branches also helps infected areas to stay away from healthy ones that could be further damaged. When pruning, you can cut of the tips off branches. Not much needs to be cut, just the edges. You can also thin out and trim them back to the branches.Pruning also stimulates growth and flowering. For an in depth look at the advantages of pruning, read what CSU has to say about pruning shrubs.

Best Times to Prune After Flowering

The late winter and early spring is the ideal time for you or a local arborist to handle your pruning. However, you should always monitor the health of your plants and shrubs and prune as you find dead or dying areas. When handling pruning in the summer, it is your primary key to monitor plants for damage and trim and remove them as needed. You will need to keep an eye on how much you are trimming as trimming too much can stunt re-growth for the remainder of the year. However, in most cases, it will re-grow the next season.Spring blooming shrubs are best pruned right after flowering has finished.  Summer blooming shrubs are best trimmed in the spring.  Green foliage shrubs are best trimmed in the late summer to early fall.

General Care Tips

Summer is one of the prime seasons to monitor and care for your plants. First, if you have not already mulched, make sure you remove old mulch and add new mulch. You only need one to three inches and refrain from adding mulch all the way up the bark or trunk of the plant. You should also monitor the amount of water that your shrubs are getting. When watering, aim to water before 10 a.m. once or twice a week.  

Are you looking for help with your pruning, tree removal and stump grinding? American Arbor Care can help. Whether you need assistance with your pruning or maintaining your landscaping, utilizing the help of an expert is a great way to maintain your investment. Not sure about pruning? Make sure to check out the Denver tree pros debunk the most common tree pruning and trimming myths. To see how we can help you with your landscaping and pruning needs, call us at 303-639-8584. 

Summer is an exciting time! Now that this season has kicked off, it is important that you work through your summer seasonal checklist. By just a little bit of effort, you can make a difference to be one of the best houses on your block. This will also ensure your landscaping in Denver stays in tip-top shape. Learn more about tips to water your lawn, trees and flowers, mowing and trimming, and safety tips while working. 

Tips to Watering Your Lawn, Trees and Flowers

When it comes to watering your lawn, trees, plants, shrubs and flowers, it is important to make sure they get enough water—but not too much. Too much water will hurt your plants. Kentucky blue grass is a cool season grass and does need 2-3” of precipitation a week.  It is not uncommon for Kentucky blue grass to be stressed during the peak heat of the season. This includes any rain, so you will need to plan your watering accordingly. Utilizing an irrigation system will also help to not over or under water. For the best time to water your lawn and plants, early in the morning should be your goal. When watering plants, make sure the water hits the bottom of the plant and not the leaves. If you find that you are struggling with keeping your lawn, plants to trees healthy, work with a local landscaping company and arborist. For more advice on watering an general lawn care, see what CSU has to say.

Mowing and Trimming

Do you know your turf? Denver Water explains there are seven common types of turf. Depending on your type, you will need to treat and mow accordingly. If you have one of the types of cool season grasses, they may not grow as well in the warmer climate. This is something to keep in mind if you notice your grass is not growing, browns or does not grow as well. You can work with a local landscaper or arborist to find solutions to best help your grass in the heat. For healthy, growing grass, you should avoid cutting your grass too short. This can make it more difficult for long term growth. For your mower, make sure the blades are always sharp.  For your plants, you need to make sure to trim off any dead or dying branches.

Safety Tips

During your summer seasonal landscaping care, safety should be a top priority. When trimming, it is important to wear protective gloves to avoid cuts and slices from shears. When mowing and cutting, particles can fly into your face. One of the best ways to protect yourself is by wearing safety glasses. For loud work, you can invest in ear plugs or other protection to avoid the effects of loud noises.

In addition to handling your checklist for your summer lawn maintenance, be sure to review the four threats to your lawn’s health this summer in Denver. For help with your trees and landscaping, contact American Arbor Care in Denver, CO for help. We have a variety of professional tree, shrub and landscape maintenance services including pruning, removal, disease management, tree planting, fertilization and more.