Monthly Archives: June 2012

How to Deal with Heat Stress in Your Lawn

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The temperature is beginning to raise to extreme heights here in Denver and the hotter it gets the more susceptible your lawn is to endure stress. And as your lawn begins to stress it will notify you by changing colors, from green to a grayish blue color before actually turning brown. It will also be slow to spring back up after it has been stepped on. If you notice that your lawn is beginning to stress from the heat…

  • heat stressed grassMake sure your sprinkler system is in good shape and covering any areas showing signs of stress.
  • Don’t mow play on, mow or fertilize a stressed lawn until it’s been watered.
  • Water long and deep between the hours of 10pm and 6am.
  • If you do have to mow don’t cut off any more than the top one-third of the grass blade and leave the grass clippings on top to provide natural cooling and moisture prevention.
  • Be patient; it takes 10-21 days for stressed grass to recover. (ALCC)

For professional help dealing with heat stress in your lawn contact Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060.

Common Plants in Your Landscape that are Toxic for Dogs

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Last week we shared a post on how to make your landscape pet-friendly and in it we mentioned that it’s important to know the types of plants that are poisonous to them. Today we are going to go elaborate a little more and tell you the common plants in your landscape that are toxic for dogs.dog eating the leaves of a plant

  • Wild mushrooms often grow in the early summer in moist places in the lawn, on tree trunks and on firewood.  Don’t rake or mow them as that spreads spores to grow more and put them in the trash not the compost bin.
  • Weeds – Since some weeds like purslane are toxic to pets, there’s another good reason to keep your yard weed free.
  • Foxglove digitalis – can cause heart failure.
  • Lilies – cause GI upset and day lilies can cause renal failure in cats.
  • Bulbs – most spring-blooming bulbs like tulips and daffodils are toxic if dogs dig them and chews them up; the same for the rhizomes of iris plants.
  • Tall ornamental grasses – sharp grass blades can cut their stomachs and create serious medical issues.
  • Toxic fruits and veggies:  plants in the onion family, rhubarb, chamomile, grapes (including raisins) and the seeds of stone fruits. (ALCC)
To take the guesswork out of figuring out which plants in your yard could be toxic to your pets have your landscape designed by Phase One Landscapes if you live in the Denver area.
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How to Make Your Landscape Pet-Friendly

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dog walking near landscapeAre you worried that your four-legged pet will cause damage to recently manicured yard or to themselves by ingesting poisonous weeds? If so then there are a few precautions you can take in an effort to make your landscape pet-friendly before allowing to them run freely this summer, such as:

  • Ward of muddy paw prints being tracked through your home by filling in low areas that collect water or addressing the issue of poor drainage with quick fixes, including placing rocks, gravel or bricks in depressions.
  • Create a well-worn path along your pet’s usual route across your yard with pave stones to counteract unsightliness and mud.
  • Create shade for your dog to cool off in, or allow them access to the north and east sides of your home.
  • Don’t keep you dog confined to your deck because they absorb heat which can lead to heat stroke and they may have splinters if they aren’t sanded regularly.
  • Compost in an enclosed area because you pet can become sick if they eat decaying compost.
  • Know which plants and weeds are poisonous and keep them out of your landscape. (ALCC)

For additional help making sure your landscape is pet-friendly contact Phase One Landscapes if you reside in the Denver area by calling 303-750-6060.

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A Look at the 2012 Olympic Village’s Landscape Design

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Are you one of the many sports enthusiasts impatiently waiting for the 2012 Summer Olympic Games? We certainly are, but we must admit we’re interested in more than just watching the athletes compete in the various sports; we want to know about the landscape design.

As you know, this year’s games will take place in London and the site in which the Olympic Village was built will eventually turn into a residential development of approximately 2,800 properties so its landscape design had to fit the needs of the Olympics as well as its post-Olympic use. Vogt Landscape Limited took on the challenge and responded by bringing the best of traditional London public realm to the area to help it reconnect with London. The 91 acres features a structural design with large plazas with sloping hillocks and organized planting, all of which is complemented by a wetlands area. Take a look for yourself…

olympic village landscape designolympic village landscape designolympic village landscape designolympic village landscape design

To learn more about the landscape design for the Olympic Village and to see additional images visit Architonic.

Images: Architonic

What’s Currently Trending in Backyard Landscape Design

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As you begin working and making summer plans for the landscape design of your backyard are you starting to wonder what trends are currently at the forefront? Luckily for you we recently came across an article on HGTV that compiled a list of what’s hot right now when it comes to updating your patio, deck or backyard. So if you are looking for a few ideas some of the features that are currently trending in backyard landscape design include:

  • The inclusion of low-maintenance gardens, drought-tolerant plants and less turf-grass have become as the norm in design plans
  • Blended gardens that contain both edibles and ornamentals
  • Focus on quality and natural materials
  • Water features that fit every budget
  • Permanent outdoor living spaces with comfortable fabrics and furniture
  • Spaces that are truly green and eco-friendly

If you would like to update your landscape with a few of today’s most current trends in landscape design call Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060 if you are in the Denver area.

 

Do You Know How to Choose Lawn Care Service?

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lawn care serviceHave you realized that taking care of your lawn is one serious chore that you don’t have the adequate amount of time for? If so you may want to consider seeking professional help, but if you’ve maintained your own landscape for all these years you probably don’t know where to begin. When it comes to choosing a lawn care service…

  • Decide what you want from a service. Do you need fertilizing, weed and lawn-damaging pest control, aerating, mowing, as well as small tree and shrub maintenance?
  • Inquire about the company’s philosophy and methods. Do they use long-acting fertilizers? Do they routinely spray for pests or problems that you haven’t experienced? Do they check soil before recommending a fertilization program?
  • Request a lawn inspection and a free estimate of service costs from the company.
  • Ask about prices and what services are included.
  • Understand what services the company is proposing to provide before work starts. Find out what treatments are included, when they will be applied, and what results can be expected.
  • Make sure the service is licensed to apply lawn-care products as required by your state. (BHG)

If you reside in the Denver area and are in need of professional lawn care service contact Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060.

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How to Maintain a Successful Garden

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Have you brushed off the idea of adding a garden to your landscape because you’ve seen first hand how unsuccessful they can be? We suggest you reconsider because gardens offer a wealth of benefits when maintained successfully. For example, they improve the aesthetics of your landscape, provide you with your own fruits and vegetables and they improve the environment. To be on your way to maintaining a successful garden, take note of these tips on how to do so:

garden design by phase one landscapes in Denver, co

  1. If you haven’t begun planting choose seeds over starter plants because they will catch up and produce faster.
  2. Avoid planting tomatoes in the same place. A new location will help to reduce insect and disease problems.
  3. Plant edibles among annual flowers and perennials in the yard as long as they have the same sun and moisture requirements.
  4. Take advantage of “companion plants” to repel unwanted insects and attract beneficial ones, and intersperse annual flowers.
  5. Water plants consistently and efficiently through drip irrigation and watering at the base.
  6. Contact Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060 for professional service if you are in the Denver area.
(ALCC)

Tips for Watering your Mountain West Landscape

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watering grassWere you one of the many Mountain West homeowners who turned on your sprinkler system on the unofficial first day of summer? If you didn’t, now is the time because temperatures will steadily begin to increase and because there are water voluntary restrictions in place for certain areas it’s important to water you lawn as efficiently as possible.

If you think you need to brush up on watering your landscape consider these tips from the Colorado State University Extension.

  • Water lawn and planting beds according to their needs. Check soil moisture before watering. Insert a 6 inch screwdriver into the soil; if it can be easily inserted, you don’t need to water.
  • Water at night. Water at night (6 p.m. – 10 a.m.) but not during the heat of the day or when the wind is blowing. Set your sprinklers to hit the landscape only, not sidewalks, driveways, windows, etc.
  • Look for footprints. Water when footprints or mower tracks become easily visible on the turf or when large areas of the lawn take on a bluish-gray color.
  • Has it rained? Skip watering on days following 1/2 inch or more of rain. On cool, cloudy days plants use less water and there is less evaporation. This extends the time needed between watering.
  • Check your sprinkler system. Check to see how long each zone is scheduled to run and adjust the timer. A shade zone will require less water than a hot, sunny area and the cooler seasons require less water than the hot summer months. Check sprinkler heads frequently to make sure that they are functioning properly. Learn how to operate your system manually.
  • When using a hose use timers to remind you to move or stop soaker hoses and sprinklers, and check your sprinklers to see how much water they put out.  This will help determine how long you should water. (Colorado State University)
For additional information and help caring for your lawn call Phase One Landscapes at 303-750-6060 if you are in the Denver area.