Category Archives: Clean-up Tips

Does Your Property Have Too Much Mulch?

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Spring is a wonderful season. Flowers are blooming, trees are lush green, and there is a strange calm in the environment, but spring also brings mulch, a lot of mulch. Mulch comes in all sorts of textures, colors, and materials, and it offers countless benefits to the landscape as well. The sight of new mulch also changes the visual appearance of the landscape as well. Apart from its aesthetic benefits, mulch also acts as an effective moisture retainer, weed control and helps keep soil temperatures stable.

 

Though the benefits are immense, there is no such thing as completely harmless. It is commonly said, “too much of everything is bad,” and the same rings true for mulch. Excess buildup of mulch can impact the landscape in more than one way, and here we will discuss some of the negative impacts that too much mulch can have.

Problems with Excess Mulch

Suffocation – Roots of plants and trees need water and air to grow and expand. Excessive mulch restricts the airflow of the soil and can cause roots to suffocate, which in turn leads to damage.

 

Crown and Root Rot – Excessive mulch causes water retention, which keeps the soil to stay wet and soggy and causes damage to plants and other vegetation.

 

Bark Damage – Mulch that pushes against the tree trunks becomes a fertile ground for insects to borrow and spread disease, which is very harmful to the overall health of the trees.

 

Root and Foliage Burn –  Excessive mulch can create an insulation layer at the roots of plants and trees and raises soil temperatures, disturbing the natural cycle of plant growth.

How Much Mulch is Too Much?

A good rule of thumb is to maintain a 2-3 inch covering over the soil when it comes to mulch. Most commonly used materials include wood, rubber, and stone. Stone and rubber are much easier to measure and stay consistent in depth all year round, but the wood tends to break down. Since our goal is to keep no more than 3 inches of mulch, it is best to remove any faded or matted down mulch. This worn-out upper layer is not very attractive and sometimes becomes insulting and doesn’t allow water to penetrate.

Reversing the Damage from Over Mulching

When you have too much mulch, you have to employ a two-part approach to stop any damages. First, you need to manually remove the excess mulch from the crowns and trunks of the plants. The second challenge is to reduce the total amount of mulch to below three-inch depth. When excessive mulch is removed, fine roots will be exposed.

Do you think you might also have too much mulch in your landscape? Give us a call and let us take care of everything for you.

Spring Yard Cleanup Checklist

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Spring is one of the most important times of year to make sure you are properly maintaining the health of your lawn. A spring cleanup is essential to setting yourself up for a beautiful outdoor living space once the nice weather is here! Whether you are attempting this yourself or hiring a professional landscaper to take care of your cleanup, here’s what you need to make sure you’re doing.

Removing Debris

There is always significant debris leftover from winter, whether or not there were a lot of storms. High winds cause branches, sticks, leaves, and other debris to pile up across your grass. Along with being unsightly, without removing the debris you will not be able to take any further steps to improve the health of your grass. Removing this debris reveals your grass underneath and leaves clear space for planting & mulching.

Dethatch

Spring is the time of year to dethatch your lawn. Detatching means removing the layer of weeds, dead grass, and roots that accumulate on the lawn’s surface throughout the year. Lawns should be dethatched at least once per year. Spring is a good time for this because following the dethatching, you can start planting!

Seeding & Planting

Spring is the time to plant the seeds for summer & fall! Go over your grass with fresh seed to have a luscious green lawn once the warm weather is here. Plant whatever you want to see bloom in your edges where you will place mulch.

Mulch & Edging

Mulch is like the finishing touch of your spring yard cleanup. Mulch comes in a variety of finishes, including dark, natural wood, and red stained. Keep in mind that more natural stains of mulch will best keep their color throughout the season.

Professional Spring Yard Cleanups

Although they are necessary and rewarding, spring cleanups are also arduous and overwhelming. Instead of taking the task on yourself, hiring a landscape professional will take the weight off your shoulders and ensure a job well done. Lola’s Landscape is happy to provide spring cleanups and more expert landscaping services to homes and businesses in Franklin, MA & beyond. To schedule your spring cleaning, please call us today at 774-248-4584!

Hazards & Risks of DIY Landscaping

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Landscaping is generally not a hazardous job, however, there are some hazards that landscapers are exposed to that could lead to serious injuries or health issues for those who aren’t trained in the work. Next time you consider some DIY landscaping, look out for these risks and hazards. 

Pesticides

Some pesticides have very minor symptoms when you are overexposed. On the other hand, though, most are very dangerous. Pesticide poisoning happens with the chemicals get into your system through your eyes, skim or are inhaled into your lungs through your mouth. This is a significant risk when you are working with chemicals and lack professional handling skills.

Hearing Hazards

Landscaping requires using some very loud, noisy equipment, such as trimmers, mowers, tillers, shredders, chippers, chainsaws and blowers. This could lead to hearing loss if you are not careful. Be sure to use some sort of hearing protection when the equipment is running. Protect yourself by wearing long pants and sleeves, eye protection, gloves and durable shoes or boots.

Sun Exposure

Some landscapers have been known to suffer from heat strokes due to dehydration and being exposed to the sun too long. Wearing a hat can help. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water and stay hydrated when working in your yard.

Insects & Diseases

As you probably know, plants attract bugs. Most insects are harmless. But some actually bite, sting and/or carry diseases. This is especially true in areas where there’s standing water. Be sure to cover yourself up, and put on a mask if you see a swarm of bugs flying around.

Scrapes & Cuts

Sharp tools and thorny plants come with the job when doing most types of landscaping. Both can cause cuts and scrapes, which should never be minimized or ignored. Treat them with rubbing alcohol and peroxide. If not, they can become infected. To avoid getting these wounds on your hands, always wear gardening gloves.

Overexertion 

When lifting heavy yard equipment and other items like bags of mulch, always use the proper lowering and lifting methods. If not, you could suffer bone breaks and painful sprains. Tasks that require repetitive motions for long time periods, such as raking or sweeping, can lead to tendonitis or carpal tunnel syndrome causing pain in your wrists and hands. You may also experience aches and pains in your back and arms. 

Professional Landscaping in Franklin, MA

The best way to avoid any and all of these DIY landscaping hazards is to hire a professional landscaper. Lola’s Landscape can help you transform your yard into a gorgeous scenery that adds curb appeal to your home. Give us a call today at 774-248-4584

Tips To Keep Your Lawn Fresh

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freshly mowed lawn

Every homeowner dreams of a lush green lawn, but keeping your lawn in tip-top shape 365 days out of the year can be a big job. Here are a few tips on how to keep your lawn looking fresh all year long.

Fertilizer: Fertilizing your lawn a few times a year can go a long way. It’s good to fertilize once in the spring, then again in midsummer with a food blend higher in nitrogen than other elements. Fertilizing too much can mean too much growth, by reducing the amount of fertilizer you can save time and energy.  It is best to fertilize after mowing and when the grass is dry to help it stick to the blades

Take Care of your Lawn Mower: Mowing your lawn regularly is important to keep it looking full and lush all year long. In order to do so, you need to keep your lawn mower in good condition. Make sure to drain gasoline and oil from your lawnmower when you are done using it. Any gasoline that stays in the tank for over a year can gum up your carburetor.

Watering: It is best to water your lawn in the early hours of the morning. This gives the lawn an opportunity to dry before nightfall when many types of fungus are most active. This is also usually a non-peak time for water supply. It is better to water well a couple of times a week than lightly daily. Deep soaking encourages deep roots growth while light watering encourages roots to stay close to the surface of the soil making your lawn susceptible to heat and drought.

Repair Brown Spots: Many times your pets can cause unwanted brown spots on your lawns. There is a high nitrogen content in pet urine which causes it to burn the grass. It is best to water these areas well within 8 hours to help dilute the high nitrogen levels. If these spots go untreated then you will need to repair them to help get your green grass back.

Parking Lot, Sidewalk, & Driveway Cleanup For A Safe Winter

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As all the leaves fall from the trees and we finish fall cleanups, our thoughts naturally turn to winter and the coming snowfall.  Ice and snow bring with them their own separate cleanup demands, but prevention is just as important as cleaning up after the snow hits the ground.  Whether you own a business with a parking lot and sidewalk that requires maintenance, or your residential driveway is in need of some attention, Lola’s Landscape provides winter cleanup services to fit your needs.

Salting and sanding any paved areas you have will go a long way towards keeping you and others safe.  Ice accumulation on pavement is extremely slippery, and can be a hazard for your home or business. There are also liability issues that go along with failing to properly clear your public surfaces of snow and ice, and no one wants to deal with a personal injury lawsuit.  Salting your parking lot and sidewalk helps prevent ice from forming in the first place, as well as melting ice that has already formed. This will keep customers, employees, and yourself safe as more intense winter weather approaches New England. Sand does not melt any ice, but does provide extra traction for tires and shoes as people move around.  These two services together help provide the best environment for foot and car traffic, and gives you peace of mind.

One heavy snowfall can make any snow removal job seem overwhelming, but Lola’s is here to help!  We offer snow blowing, plowing, and shoveling services to quickly clean up accumulated snow that makes getting in and out of your home or business a hassle.  We can clear any walkways, stairs, decks, driveways, parking lots, porches, or yards that need attention.

Snow plowing and removal is critical to maintaining a functional business and being able to safely get in and out of your home.  Removing this snow can be time consuming and difficult, so we offer emergency snow removal. Lola’s will come plow your driveway or business parking lot in the middle of the night so you have a clear path to work in the morning, or your employees have somewhere to park.

We take the stress and hassle out of any snow removal and winter preparedness job so you can go about your day without disruption.  Our team is standing by to help you with any winter cleanup job you need! Call Adam at 774-248-4584 or contact us online to schedule your winter service today.

Spring Brush Chipping

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Although winter seems to be lingering on like an unannounced house guest, we promise, Spring will be here soon. Bookings in Norfolk County for Spring Clean-Ups have already begun coming in. Our Spring Clean-Ups involve removing all debris from the winter, including leaves and limbs that have been scattered all over your yard. Additionally, Lola’s Landscape provides home and property owners brush chipping.

Brush Chipping in Norfolk County

Another service that is highly sought after busy Winter’s is brush chipping. Lola’s Landscape is fully equipped to handle any type of brush chipping job. If you have any sized property, large or small, you have probably run into some issues after the many storms we have encountered in February & March this year. Due to the nature of the high winds we have experienced with the storms (some areas reported winds over 50mph or more) we are expecting a higher demand for Spring clean-ups and brush chipping this year.

Schedule Brush Chipping in Norfolk County

We are available starting now to provide this service to Norfolk residents or business owners. To schedule service or inquire about this service, contact us today!

 

Fall Lawn Care Tips in Norfolk County MA

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Each region in the United States have their own fall lawn care regiment; here at Lola’s Landscape, we follow a strict fall lawn care system that will help our clients maintain a fresh and healthy lawn!

Take a look at just a few of the services we will be providing during our fall cleanup and lawn care services for the Norfolk County MA area:

  1. Fertilizing: It’s important to fertilize your lawn, at least once a year; if you’re only interested in fertilizing your lawn once, you should have us do it in the fall! We recommend fertilizing once in early fall and again during the end of the autumn season.
  2. Lawn Mowing: As the temperature starts to cool down, your grass will start to grow faster; we recommend having us mow your lawn on a regular basis.
  3. Pick em’ up: It’s important for the health and the look of your leaves if you pick up the fallen leaves and twigs. Wet and old leaves will attract insects that will feed on your grass from now until the spring, causing some serious damage to your grass!
  4. Overseeding: Fall is the ideal time for our overseeding services and products because, as we mentioned before, grass grows quicker and better in cold temperatures.
  5. Perennial Weeds: You don’t need them, so let us get rid of them for you! These weeds, are mostly dandelions, should be sprayed and removed by fall so that a new bud can grow for the spring.
  6. Aerating: Aeration will help loosen that compacted soil of yours; after a summer full of BBQs and children playing in your backyard, the soil is severely compacted; compacted soil means your soil is not getting the nutrients from sun and water it needs to grow healthy. Without a healthy soil, your grass will be eaten alive by insects and diseases.

For more information about fall lawn care, or to schedule a fall cleanup, please give Lola’s Landscape a call at 774-248-4584. We are looking forward to helping you maintain a healthier lawn during the fall season.

Fall Cleanup Tips

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Fall is here, and we are officially taking on reservations for our signature fall clean up services! If you’re in the Norfolk County area, feel free to call Lola’s Landscape at 774-248-4584 to make a reservation today; hurry slots fill up fast!

The summer was hot, and the hot rays can cause some damage to both your grass and the soil; the fall is really the time to “put your lawn to bed”. Just like a squirrel stocks up on nuts for the winter season, you need to feed your lawn the right nutrients during the fall to prepare it for the spring season.

Here are some of the ways we can help you care for your lawn during the fall season:

  1. Feed you lawn with much needed nutrients; fertilizing your lawn will help create a strong and healthy roots. Fertilizing will replenish your lawn’s roots with the nutrients it lost during the hot, humid summer.
  2. Don’t forget to water you lawn! Be sure to water you lawn and plants early in the day to avoid evaporation.
  3. Help your soil breath with our aeration services! Foot traffic and debris can really smother your soil; aeration will loosen up the soil so that all parts will receive the water and sunlight they need to thrive.
  4. Be sure to level the ground and to fill in ruts; dethatching will loosen up the soil by removing all of that excess debris.
  5. Remove those leaves! Removing leaves is a pain to most, but we view it as an essential part of the fall cleanup service! Removing leaves and twigs is essential so your soil and lawn can breath; if you leave leaves covering your lawn, they become wet and heavy, and can cause some serious damage to your lawn. Don’t forget, insects and diseases love dark and moist environments.
  6. Mow your lawn. After all the leaves and debris are removed, it’s time to mow your lawn; this will be the last cut of the season, and it will be a short one, since you won’t mow your lawn again until spring.

This is our fall cleanup services in a nutshell! For a more extended list of our fall services, please give Lola’s Landscape a call at 774-248-4584; don’t forget to schedule a head of time because slots fill up fast!