Category: lawn maintenance

Just like your home, your landscaping and lawn are investments. If you want to protect those investments, winterize your home before winter settles in. Landwork Contractors has been serving the Hudson River Valley for over 15 years. We know all the secrets for keeping any landscape healthy through those cold months of winter. 

Why Do I Need to Winterize My Landscaping?

Healthy lawns and landscaping are an important part of any property. A strong, healthy landscape protects your home or office from serious and expensive issues.  Here are a few reasons why winterizing is so important:

• Prevent Erosion – Healthy lawns and gardens help lower run-off and pooling issues from rain. Excess water can contribute to the erosion of the grounds surrounding your house. All that water can create very expensive issues like foundations slipping, mold, decay, disease, and rotting wood. Grading and leveling areas of your home or office can help offset erosion. 

• Prevent Pests-  Termites, carpenter ants, carpenter bees, roaches and more are attracted to debris and disease in your landscaping. By keeping your landscaping and lawn tidy, you’re also protecting your home. Have an expert help you trim branches and mow lawns before winter settles in. 

• Create Strong Growth in the Spring- When you winterize your landscaping, you create a strong foundation for healthy plants and lawns all year long. You’ll be able to fight against disease, dehydration, pests, and more with a simple plan in the fall.

• Prevent Mold and Disease- Unhealthy lawns create excess moisture and mold. These issues could also creep into your home, creating mold and health issues for you and your family. You’ll want to make sure you have a lawn maintenance plan that will keep your lawn tidy, even in colder months. 

• Keeps Your Property Looking Beautiful All Year Long- Whether it’s your home or your office, winterizing helps keep your property looking tidy and appealing all year long. During winter months, you’ll be able to enjoy a clean landscape. During spring and summer months, your lawn and gardens will be healthier and more vibrant. During the Fall, you will be able to enjoy healthy trees and falling leaves without worrying about decay or disease. 

If you are ready to start a plan for winterizing your landscape and lawn, just ask Landwork Contractors. We have over 18 years of landscaping and lawncare experience in Westchester, Putnam, and Duchess Counties. Call us today at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online. We’re always ready to help.

Professional Landscapers Take the Guesswork Out of Winter Lawn Maintenance

Winter can sneak up on you. One minute the leaves are falling, the next thing you know, there’s a layer of snow on the ground. Before winter weather strikes, make sure you get your landscape and lawn ready. The team Landwork Contractors is ready to help. Here are our top five favorite ways to get your home ready for winter.

• Pick Up Debris- Once winter comes, you won’t be able to see toys, hoses, or other debris hidden under a layer of snow. Picking up debris could keep you safe from dangerous slips and hazards. Items left out on your lawn can also kill your grass and create winter weather disease issues.

• Check for Drainage Issues- As temperatures drop, that small puddle or little leak can create a dangerous icy patch that could hurt your family. Fix drainage issues before winter hits to avoid damage to your landscaping and home. Your trusted landscaper provides professional drainage services. The experts at Landwork Contractors can help you determine where the problem started and prepare a plan to fit your needs and your budget.

• Protect from Autumn Pests- Seeing deer and rabbits along the countryside is a joy but not when they are wreaking havoc on your landscaping. Get your professional landscaping team to wrap plants and trees in deer netting before winter to keep them from nibbling on your landscaping.

• Remove Leaves- Autumn leaves are beautiful but they should not be left overflowing on your lawn. A heavy layer of leaves will increase the chance of infection, disease, and mold. Those leaves can also create a slick spot on your lawn. Avoid damages and dangers by mulching your leaves into compost or have them removed.

• Insulate- Winter frosts can damage roots and trunks of more delicate trees and bushes. Carefully wrap your trees with burlap to protect against frost and winter weather to keep them beautiful all year long. Add an extra layer of mulch to your bushes and gardens to keep your soil warmer and your plants protected.

Be Winter Ready with Professional Landscaping Services in Westchester and Putnam Counties

As the weather turns colder, your lawn requires special care to keep it healthy and beautiful. Leave the hard work to the experts at Landwork Contractors. We’ll make sure your lawn and landscaping are in top shape before winter weather strikes. Call us today at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online.

Keep your landscaping healthy and beautiful with Professional Pruning

If you want to have a beautiful landscape, you’ll need to prune properly. Landwork Contractors has been pruning the gorgeous homes of Westchester and Putnam counties to perfection for over 16 years. Let us clear up the prune schedule confusion. To get you started here’s a quick guideline for June pruning.

Pruning with Purpose

Left alone, Shrubs and trees can grow out of control, become unbalanced or dry up. Pruning helps your trees and bushes by:

What Should You Prune In June?

Plants that have recently bloomed in Spring will need to be pruned in June. Your trusted landscaper in Westchester County can help you know which ones need pruning. Here are just a few plants that will need to be pruned:

Hydrangeas: Pruning the wrong hydrangea in June can damage the plant. Here’s the right prune schedule for Hydrangeas:

• Blooms on old growth: These blooms grown on the wood-like brown stalks. Prune these right after the first flowering.
• Blooms on new growth: These blooms come out on softer green stems. Prune new growth blooms anywhere from the end of May to June for gorgeous blooms this summer

Azaleas– After that first flush of beautiful blooms in early spring, prune azaleas. Pruning these bushes also controls and shapes their quickly growing branches.

Rhododendrons– These gorgeous blooms will keep coming if you trim after they’ve faded. Remove the old blossoms by carefully twisting the blooms.

Rose bushes– The royalty of the garden needs constant attention that means continuous pruning. Prune them properly and you’ll have beautiful blooms all season long.

Fruit and stone-fruit trees– Too much growth on a fruit tree will starve the rest of the tree. Prune early in the summer after the first crop to control fast growth. Stone-fruit trees need about 50% pruned.

Pruning shrubs and trees perfectly takes a lot of knowledge and hard work. Leave the pruning to Landwork Contractors! Call us today at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online. We’ll have your whole yard blooming and beautiful all summer long.

Professional Tips for Taming Autumn Leaves

Autumn leaves are quickly falling in our yards, lawns, and gardens. Sometimes it may feel like an avalanche of leaves has landed right in your lawn. But, did you know you can put those pesky leaves to work? Landwork Contractors has a few strategies to help you with your fall lawn maintenance. We’ll have your lawn thriving and looking tidy in no time.

Making the Most of Excess Leaves

A yard full of leaves isn’t only messy, it can also be dangerous for you and your lawn. Slick wet leaves can make pathways hazardous for you and guests. On your lawn, leaves left alone can suffocate grass and soil. So how can you put these leaves to better use? Simply follow these 4 strategies!

• Mulching Leaves- Lawns that have 1/4th an inch or less of fallen leaves can be saved by mulching the leaves. Simply rent a mulch mower from your local home improvement store and get to mowing. The mulch you create can help your lawn and different parts of your landscaping by creating a protective covering that keeps soil temperatures warmer during the cooling weather of fall. Other benefits of mulch include:

• Keeping moisture in the ground during dry months

• Provide nutrients to plants and soil for cooler months.

• Protecting ground, plants, and soil during winter temperatures.

• Cuts down on weed growth.

• Decreases disease and insect issues.

• Leaves for Your Garden– If you have more than 1/4th inch layer of leaves, collect the leaves and spread them evenly over your garden. This organic mulch includes all the benefits of mulching with extra nutrients for long winter months. It’s perfect for both home lawn maintenance and grounds maintenance at the office. Landwork Contractors will help you with proper mulching techniques for your individual needs.

• Tilling Makes Happy Yards!– Tilling your leaves will help improve the health and condition of your soil. A simple process of tilling the yard with the leaves creates a natural aeration process that soil desperately needs during fall. You’ll have a happier, healthier vegetable garden in the spring too!

• Compost Those Leaves! – Composting is actually a very easy and rewarding process. Here’s how:
  • Collect Leaves
  • Shred Leaves
  • Put Leaves in Compost Bin
  • Add Nitrogen Rich Items (garbage, manure, freshly cut grass, nitrogen enhancer)
  • Turn Compost Every Few Days
  • Keep Moist, Not Wet

Autumn leaves are loaded with nutrients your plants need. You’ll save money on plant food and fertilizers while using environmentally safe products. Plus composted leaves will improve soil structure for any soil and save your garden from evaporation.

Autumn Leaves Bring New Life to Lawns

Nutrient rich falling leaves can really boost your lawn or garden when handled correctly. Landwork Contractors has the best maintenance and lawn care plans for creating a healthy and beautiful landscape for your home or office. We know all the special details of landscape maintenance in Westchester County. We offer multiple leaf removal and mulching plans as well as individualized care for various landscapes. If you are interested in leaf removal services or have questions about you lawn care, don’t hesitate to call us at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online. We can’t wait to help you create beautiful landscapes with you.

Make Landscaping a Priority for Lasting Impressions

First Impressions really matter. Unfortunately, outdoor spaces often become an afterthought for homeowners even though they are the first impression people make of your home. Landwork Contractors can help you make a great first impression that guests or buyers will remember. We offer professional expert care for your lawn and landscaping including these services:

First impressions start from the outside, make it count.

Make Your Home New Again With Landscaping

Taking care of a home can get overwhelming. A lot of times we just let things go and forget to keep up our yards and gardens. You can make your home shine with a little landscaping and elbow grease. Or, if you don’t have the time or a green thumb, you can leave the landscaping to Landwork Contractors. Start upgrading your home’s look with these simple landscaping tips.

• Pruning and trimming: Pruning and trimming usually occurs two times a year in late spring to early summer (May-June) and late summer to very early fall (September). Pruning and trimming back your ornamental shrubs and grasses creates clean, cohesive look. Overgrown shrubs make a landscape look neglected. Trimmed and well-kept bushes can accentuate the features of your home and add depth to your landscape.

Knowing when, how and where to prune is difficult.  Leave the pruning to the trusted professionals at Landwork Contractors. We are experts in Westchester and Putnam county will make sure your plants are well manicured and provide beautiful blooms or plenty of fruit.

• Plant. Add splashes of color as seasons turn. There are many simple elements of design that could enhance the beauty of your surroundings.  Fill empty spaces with containers of varying flowers and herbs.
  • Play with size and shape when selecting plants.
  • Add depth and height by planting ornamental trees, shrubs or evergreens of all shapes and sizes. These are also excellent as natural privacy fences and borders.
  • Plant in layers, alternating bloom time and size to enhance the natural beauty of your landscape. A few excellent choices include Evergreens for year round color or Dogwood, Viburnum and Hydrangeas for color at different seasons.

Gardens require regular care and maintenance. Don’t let that scare you away, the experts at Landwork Contractors handle everything. You can design the perfect garden then leave the rest to us.

• Mulch. Mulch not only deters weed growth and soil impaction, it also adds brilliant color and design textures to your landscaping.  You can use different colors, textures or materials to create amazing mulch beds that will add an extra level of beauty to your home.

You can also add a few features to help make your home stand out and add safety.

• Lighting- Lights play many roles, from adding to a home’s attractiveness to illuminating steps and sidewalks for safety or showcasing points of interest in the landscape.

• Features. Adding a central piece to your landscape will extend its beauty throughout the year. Water features are an excellent way to reduce unwanted noises or produce a calming sound. A pagoda or pergola can extend the beauty of your home. Consult a professional for installations of bigger features or with anything that involves a combination of water and electricity.

• Paths- Walkways and paths are an important part of any home. They can create a breathtaking picture from the curb while getting guests safely to your home. Consider stepping stones, intricate designs or curving paths for extra design elements.

Come Home to Your Masterpiece

A few quick changes and continued maintenance can turn your home from blah to a neighborhood work of art. Let Landwork Contractors make your landscape both beautiful and practical. Our qualified masonry experts and gardeners will help your vision become a reality, creating a whole new world right outside your doorstep. Call Landwork Contractors at 914-479-2537 or make an appointment online while you enjoy your morning coffee.

 

Westchester County Landscapers Prune to Perfection

Pruning is a vital part of garden care for all trees, especially our stunning flowering trees. However, unlike other trees and shrubs, flowering trees bloom in different ways and at different times. These lovely garden additions need the special care only a professional can provide. Landwork Contractors can give your flowering trees the personal care they need all year long.

Pruning Precision

Improper pruning can lead to decay or damage for your flowering trees. Pruning is both a science and an art form. Professional lawn care specialists will know exactly where and how to prune a flowering tree. Landwork Contractors experienced Landscape Maintenance Crew can prune your flowering trees to keep your flowering tree healthy by:

• Removing dead or diseased branches and limbs. Dead limbs encourage insect populations and disease, which can ruin your tree.
• Removing water sprouts. Those quick growing upward limbs that appear suddenly are called water sprouts. These limbs can weigh down trees and cause overcrowding which will decrease air and sunlight supplies to your tree.
• Removing Suckers. Suckers are similar to water sprouts except that they grow near the bottom of a tree and grow downward. They generally suck the nutrients from a tree the same way water sprouts do.
• Stimulating Future Growth. When you cut back dead, diseased or overcrowded branches, you create room for more sunlight and air to reach the plant. You also create better opportunities for healthy growth.
• Shaping and Forming Trees- Trees grow in every direction. Proper pruning can shape a tree into a form that can be beautiful and healthy.
• Cutting back Crossed Branches- Sometimes the growth can be overwhelming, especially when branches cross each other. Crossed branches can cause bare bark or weigh down a tree. It’s important to cut crossed branches before they overtake the tree.

Different Trees Have Different Needs

When it comes to pruning your flowering trees there isn’t a single method that fits all these trees. Different trees bloom at different times so their pruning needs will be different.

Spring Flowering Trees– Trees that bloom in the spring grow new buds in the fall on wood that comes from the previous season. If you prune these too early, you will prune away future budding and also cut down on your spring blooms. These trees need to be pruned in late spring, just after they have finished blooming.  Trees that often bloom in the spring include:

• Dogwood
• Vibernum
• Lilac
• Rhododendrons
• Crabapple
• Flowering Cherry Trees
• Hydrangea

Summer Flowering Trees– Unlike spring flowering trees, summer blooming trees create buds on new wood from the season. These trees will need to be pruned in very late winter or early spring while they are still dormant. Pruning will need to be done either during their dormancy or right before they bloom. It will also help to prune during this time because the main structure of the tree is more visible during late winter and early spring. Trees that flower in summer include:

• Buddleia or Butterfly Bush
• Spirea
• Crape Myrtle
• Bradford Pear

Booming Blossoms

It takes a lot of work, time and knowledge to care for flowering trees. Landwork Contractors has the right tools and a great team of experts that will keep your blooms booming all season long. Call us today at 914-479-2537 to get your flowering tree pruning started right. Or make an appointment online while you plan for your spring garden.

Professional Pruning Creates Lush Shrubs

While the frost is still sitting on your window sill, it’s the perfect time to start thinking about pruning your evergreen shrubs. Pruning is an essential part of keeping evergreen shrubs healthy and growing. While many of us enjoy tending to our gardens or home plants, it is very important to leave the pruning to professionals. One wrong snip and you could lose your favorite shrub. Landwork Contractors are experts in evergreen shrub care. Pruning is part of our regular maintenance for all clients. Our experienced team knows the exact process needed to keep your evergreen shrubs growing beautifully and under control.

What is Pruning?

Pruning is the method of cutting back old, diseased or untidy growth on shrubs and trees. Proper pruning can create continued health and growth in ailing plants or promote health and growth in healthy plants. When pruning is done correctly, specific parts of the plant are clipped. Landwork Contractors professional landscape teams know just which parts to clip and which to leave alone.

Pruning for a Purpose

Evergreen shrubs can be lush and beautiful all year long with the appropriate care. However, these hardy plants do come with some issues.

• Evergreen Shrubs Are Unruly – These plants tend to grow every which way. Left untended, they will easily become overgrown, untidy and uneven. There will be lumps of overgrowth and large bare patches. Your beautiful lush shrub will go from a treasure to an eye sore.
• Overgrowth Invites Issues- When an evergreen shrub is overgrown, sunlight and air can no longer reach the central part of the plant. The shrub is malnourished and becomes an easy target for disease and pests.
• Overgrowing and Overcrowding- Left on their own, evergreen shrubs will start to take over gardens, walkways and paths. Pruning tames the evergreen shrub and keeps it from crowding and killing other plants.
• Reshaping- Since evergreen shrubs grow in every direction, you can use pruning to reshape them into manageable and delightful shapes. New growth will be even across the shrub, making it a lovely addition to any landscape.
• Encouraging Growth- Thought it might not make sense, pruning actually encourages growth. Professional natural pruning, like that performed by Landwork Contractors, will help keep your evergreen shrub growing. When old limbs are cut, it makes room for new limbs. Also, when overcrowding occurs, the pruning will allow more sunlight and air to reach the plant.

When to Prune

Late March or early April are the best times to prune your evergreen shrubs like those juniper and yews everyone loves. The plants have a spurt of energy during these months that creates opportunities for shrubs to grow. It is important to prune just before new growth occurs. New growth also needs time to mature before cold weather begins. This is why we prune early. Also, it is important to never prune in fall. New growth that occurs in fall will be more susceptible to winter damage.

Professional Pruning Pays Off

Even though many people enjoy gardening, pruning should always be left to skilled and experienced professionals. Landwork Contractors has a team of licensed and experienced professionals who can prune with care. Their expertise will leave your evergreen shrubs growing and thriving. Call us today at 914-479-2537 to start your evergreen pruning plan. Or make an appointment online. We’ll keep your landscaping beautiful all year long.