TOP 10 LANDSCAPING MISTAKES

10. Over planting landscapes. Plant material needs to be set at correct distances to allow it to grow, thrive and last. Too much material crammed into a given space will not stand the test of time.

9. Limiting the use of hardscape material. In areas where plants cannot be grown or thrive, properly planned hardscaping can solve a lot of landscape problems.

8. Excessive planting on large landscapes. How much you plant determines how much you spend to maintain.

7. Improperly mulching plant material. Too much mulch will cause decay, limit water penetration and become a haven for unwanted insects.

6. Limited diversity of plants. Escape the dull landscape! There are so many species and variants available to create a unique and vibrant look.

5. Poor planning for height and width of trees and shrubs. Pick the right landscape material so you don't cover windows, walks, doors and drives.

4. Landscapes without a plan. There’s more to landscaping than buying what’s in bloom and finding a place for it. Poor designs will lead to maintenance issues, damage and ultimately cost more in the long run.

3. Not realizing when to start over: Landscape material lasts a long time, but not forever. At some point it may be best to start over rather than pruning plants and shrubs to the ground.

2. Destroying the beauty of shrubs and trees by improperly pruning them.

1. Failing to match your soil with plant material. Soil which drains poorly will lead to root disease and drowning of plant material.

Don't Speed Up A Long Winter

Let Late Season Winter Precipitation Run Its Course, Rather Than Causing Further Damage To Your Plants & Shrubs

Even though spring has officially arrived, winter continues to drag on en route to one of the three snowiest years on record here in the Tri-State area. And when a late winter/early spring snow and ice fall occurs, quite often a homeowner will attempt to remove such covering from plants and shrubs in order to allow them to begin spring growth. Big mistake. Plants and shrubs are generally quite resilient and can take up to half an inch of ice or a total covering of snow. Attempting to remove accumulation can often cause more damage than the ice or snow itself.

"We see more damage to beautiful landscaping when a homeowner attempts to speed along Mother Nature by removing ice and snow," said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Nursery & Landscape Services of Berkeley Heights, N.J. "Most plants simply don't like this."

It Depends On The Plant
Plants with multiple stems, weak or damaged crotches or branches, as well as older specimens are most susceptible to damage.

One way to prevent damage to these plants is to tie the branches together until the snow and ice melt. Tie weaker branches to stronger ones. On plants with multiple leaders, such as arborvitae, you can tie the leaders together with strips of strong cloth or nylon stocking. But always remember to remove these ties when you're sure winter is officially over, as they can cause damage during the growing season.

However, if it's necessary to remove excessive snow or ice, be very gentle and wait until temperatures are near the freezing mark, not when it is subzero. Running cold water can be used to remove ice an inch or more thick. Never use hot water, as this could kill the plant. And make sure the water does not re-freeze.
Also, don't hit the plants with shovels or other tools to remove snow and ice! Instead, use a broom to gently remove snow, removing just enough to take pressure off the plant. You don't need to remove all the snow or ice.

How To Handle Broken Branches
If branches do break, always make sure to remove them as soon as possible. Proper pruning assures healing and new growth each year. Cut broken branches back to their origin and not beyond the break, unless the break occurs right at the crotch. Make a clean cut and remove any damage.

And it's always better to leave a wound open and clean rather than applying any type of paint to it.
Also, trees don’t heal, they rather grow over a damaged area. Which is why you must always remember to clean any damage diligently.

Take the time to protect your plants with tender care from the winter elements where necessary, and before you know it, you'll be enjoying the fruits of your labor.

Give Your Backyard A Makeover

How To Step Out Back Into Your Own Personal Oasis

One of the more enjoyable aspects of owning a home is getting to design the landscaping to your liking. As more people are staying home during their warm weather vacation time due to rising travel and gas costs, it's time to really separate your property into two distinct landscaping entities: the front yard and the backyard.    Generally speaking, the front of your home is more for show. It's the whole curb appeal thing. You want people to pass by and admire. It's a source of pride.

The backyard is a whole different subject. This is your private domain, your oasis, the site of your 'staycation.' You want to step outside into your backyard, and not have a desire to be anywhere else in the world.

"We're constantly working with homeowners who can't believe how a few simple alterations have drastically changed the entire mood of their backyard," said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Nursery & Landscape Services of Berkeley Heights, N.J. "It's a process that's fun and should be embraced by anyone looking to improve their backyard."

Beginning Your Backyard Beautification
Very simply, first consider your lifestyle before you make any decisions. Do you want a swimming pool? Do you like to barbeque and entertain? Do you have an adequate deck?
Or would you rather have a simple patio? Consider your available space, your needs and, of course, your budget. Swimming pools are great, but they're expensive and time consuming, so consider with caution. Also, plan ahead and realize how many more years your children will be living with you. A pool now may be obsolete in another eight years.
If barbeques and entertaining are a priority, consider starting with the deck, then building your backyard around it. Or if you prefer a more quiet, intimate setting, a patio with nice pavers or stones is ideal.

If you prefer the backyard as a place to read or meditate, explore installation of a pond/waterfall combination, and perhaps even add some Koi fish to the mix. A classy Gazebo or benches also goes well with this.

Take your time and plan thoughtfully with your future needs in mind. And don't worry too much about the re-sale value (your return on investment) of your home. Chances are if you're doing something to beautify the exterior of your home, it's going to reflect in the value of your property.

Adding & Caring For The Greenery
Once your plans are in place, now the really fun and creative part begins: planning the placement of your trees, shrubs, flowers and other greenery. Here, it's about getting the most for your money. You can recycle and simply move greenery, and existing topsoil can often be revitalized in a relatively short amount of time at a significantly cheaper price.
Flower beds and mulch are extremely inexpensive and can add the ultimate bang-for-your-buck to your backyard.

Never forget the lawn, as it's the first thing everyone (including you) notices. If hiring a lawn service company, it's essential to find a reputable company. Get quotes from several companies. Take your time and make an educated decision. Many of these providers may also bundle other landscaping services into their pricing, so consider each one carefully. Your savings could be significant.

Above all, ask questions of your landscaping professional! They can help you to maximize your budget, while providing a wealth of ideas you've likely never considered. You'll be surprised at what kind of results a collaboration like this can produce.

Most importantly, enjoy the process! This is the fun part of owning a home. There's a popular saying "the journey is half the fun of getting there." Remember this when planning your backyard. 

Selling Your Home? Maximize Your Curb Appeal With Proper Landscaping

Getting Top Dollar For Your Home Begins Outdoors

They say never judge a book by its cover, but unfortunately that's all too often the case when house hunting. Potential buyers could take one look at a home from the outside and quickly dismiss it -- without even getting out of their cars. Why? Curb appeal. And this begins with landscaping.

"We can't tell you how many times a realtor has pointed a homeowner to us for help in selling their home," said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Landscape Services & Nursery of Berkeley Heights, N.J. "Landscaping is generally overlooked when selling a home, but many sellers will discover how quickly they can sell their home with changes as simple as adding some shrubbery or throwing down some mulch."

Curb appeal is the "wow" factor that sets your home apart from others in the neighborhood. And this is exactly what you need when selling your house. Especially in today's market. Very simply, trees, shrubs, flowers and a host of other simple landscaping treatments can dramatically enhance your home's value, and allow you to get your money's worth when selling. So here's a few pointers to begin the curb appeal process:

Green Equals Green
Have a green, lush, well-manicured lawn, and you're well on your way to proper curb appeal. Most buyers want to buy a home that is in move-in condition. And that includes the lawn. It's also a reflection to many -- valid or not -- of the condition of the house inside. For that reason, many potential suitors won't even step foot in your home after seeing a shabby lawn. Proper mowing, watering and fertilizing is a must. Replacing brown patches with new sod is, too.

Trees & Shrubs, Oh My!
The correct usage of trees and shrubs also vastly increases curb appeal. They provide shade, privacy and a sense of overall comfort to the property. And a slew of affordable options are always available. Consult with your local nursery for the best options. Some require direct sunlight, others don't. The last thing you want to do is add new foliage that fails to take, and thus even further diminishes your curb appeal!

Stop To Smell The Flowers
"It's amazing how the addition of a simple flower bed can boost a home's curb appeal," added Dinizo. Indeed, homeowners are presented with thousands of options to add splashes of beautiful, seasonal color to a landscaping scheme. But that can also be overwhelming. That's why a quick visit to your local nursery can empower you with the proper knowledge to make the best decisions on what to plant. Think about adding flowers with particularly pleasant scents, as those make a huge impression on potential buyers walking into your home for the first time. Fountains, ponds, and other garden elements are usually a big hit with buyers, but keep it simple. A "busy" look can make matters even worse. And perennials are likely your most cost-effective flower choice. With proper care, perennials will bloom year after year, while annuals die after one season and do not flower again the following spring.

Don't Forget The Mulch
One of the best bangs for your buck is mulch. A few bags of mulch can give a property a very "clean" look, and makes a terrific first impression. Mulch is truly the glue that holds all of your other landscaping elements together. Use mulch in flower beds, around trees, and along pathways. It adds a polished appearance to your property, prevents weeds, repels insects and offers protection for delicate root systems. And it smells good.

So take the time to look outside your home and put yourself in the shoes of a potential buyer pulling up for the first time. With a little time and effort -- and not much money -- you'll soon find yourself at the closing! 

Choosing The Right Landscaping Company

Some helpful tips to make choosing the right landscaping company simpler

In the information age it has never been easier to find out what you need to know in order to hire the right landscaping company for the job. No matter if it is a small job or a large one, you still need to make sure that the landscaping company you choose is reliable and trustworthy and that they actually know what they are doing.

You should start by finding out how long the landscaping company has been in business, the longer the better. If they have been in business for 15 years or more, then there’s a much better chance that they are good at what they do and will have the reputation and customer testimonials to back it up. Of course there are exceptions to this, but it is a pretty good rule of thumb. Most landscaping companies grow through customer referrals and repeat business, so any company with 15 or more years of service is a good sign of happy customers.

Don’t stop at the age of the company however. You still need to find out how well run a landscaping company is. Look at it this way: most landscaping companies are small businesses that only have a few people working there. The owners end up having to do the bulk of the work on their own. That is why many landscaping companies are not always as reliable as they should be. Like other contractors they have a lot on their plate and they can, at times, get overwhelmed and not show up for a job when they were supposed to. Choosing a landscaping company where the owner has a small staff both in the office and out in the field is the best scenario for a home owner. This size landscaping company is ‘just right’ because the owner is still heavily involved in the day-to-day, probably spends a good portion of time working with the crews, but has enough staff in place to prevent from falling behind.

"There’s a sweet spot for a good landscaping company. Just enough office help and manpower to keep customers happy, but still able to take on new business when there’s growth," said Ralph Dinizo, President of Truesdale Nursery & Landscape Services of Berkeley Heights, N.J in a recent interview. "We’ve been doing this for 18 years, so we’ve learned what works. Whether it’s estate management, wall and patio work, computer imagery, walkways, landscaping, or whatever the need – we have the people in place to handle it. But we’re not sitting around either; we have enough work to keep our crews busy, even through the winter.”

That is why it’s a good idea to find out how many clients a potential landscaping company has and the number of ‘crews’ they have at the time you are going to hire them. If they sound as if they’ll be too busy then you might want to choose another landscaping company, one that will have the time and staff that you need. You need to choose a landscaping company that will be dedicated to the work that you need to get done, you are paying for a service and you deserve for it to be as good as it can be.