Author Archives: GCSDev

Put Those April Showers to Good Use

Spring is the time for showers and it is also the time to consider catching and storing water for summer. Gardens, flowers and lawns often suffer during the hot months and are vulnerable to perishing without a sufficient water supply. Extra water can also come in handy for chores such as car washing. Now is the time to consider a rain barrel or garden.

A rain barrel is basically a tank that catches rainfall and runoff from roofs and gutters. It can be as small as 30 gallons or as large as 300 and comes with a screen that filters out undesirable debris such as insects, leaves and dirt. The stored water can be obtained through a tap, hose or spigot and directed right to the garden or lawn. Using a rainwater yield table can be helpful in determining what size barrel is needed. One good rainy day may produce many gallons of usable water.

An alternative to the collection barrel is a rain garden. These gardens are constructed in low areas, which then collect natural runoff from roadways and rooftops and other sources. While this water is not collected and saved as with a rain barrel, it is a quick and simple way to keep a garden properly watered.

When deciding between a rain garden or barrel, it can be useful to consult with a landscaper. The landscaper will assess the garden and determine what method will best suit its water needs and then install or create it. Rain gardens are complex in design and climate dependent regarding the types of plants and rainfall per season so its best to ask a professional’s advice before starting out to get the best results.

Rain barrels and gardens are also a great way to help the environment by not depleting municipal water supplies that are already too low in many areas. It’s easy to go green.

MATT’S APRIL TIP

Spring is here and I’m sure you have been out in your yard surveying and planning for a beautiful season.  The trees and bulbs are blooming…and the weed seeds are sprouting.  Now is the best time to control weeds in your planting beds.  All perennial and annual weeds should be removed – we recommend only mechanical removal – not the use of harsh weed killing herbicides.  Most annual weeds are easily removed at this time of year before they have had a chance to develop strong root systems and most critically – create THOUSANDS of seeds.  Perennial (returns every year), weeds need their entire root system to be removed or they will come back.  Clean and rake your beds and then apply at least a two to three inch layer of mulch – preferably shredded hardwood, cedar or pine.  These mulches stay in place and shade the ground to prevent weed seeds from sprouting. 

Lawn weeds are a little tougher to control naturally, but there is a product called WOW made from corn gluten that is a natural pre-emergent weed control product for lawns.  It will also stop any lawn seed from sprouting, so it should only be used if your lawn is established

Annapolis Home Show Highlights Latest in Green Building | Matt Ciminelli

Local homeowners from Annapolis and beyond check out everything from environmentally safe landscaping to more efficient insulation. The show continues next weekend.

Scott Smith, owner of the home expo, has been bringing the home show to Annapolis for six years. He said he’s seen people start embracing more environmentally friendly design for the practicality and cost savings things like better insulation and energy-saving appliances bring.

Some homeowners also are buying smaller homes, but focusing on comfort and personal touches like custom kitchens and outdoor living spaces, he said.

“People want to enjoy their homes, not just live in them,” he said.

Ciminelli’s Landscape Services, based in Lothian, offers living retaining walls, pervious pavers, rain gardens and other environmentally friendly landscape options that are very popular with homeowners who live near the water in Anne Arundel County, said Janet Lewis, an office assistant.

But green isn’t just a trend for the company, said owner Matt Ciminelli.

The landscape company has been “green” for decades, and he encourages homeowner avoid chemicals, get soil tests and plant things that don’t require excessive effort—the right plant in the right place, he said. His philosophy is not to try to save the whole Chesapeake Bay at once, but focus on one house at a time.

Sandy Wood of Severna Park met Ciminelli at the home show four years ago, and said she was so happy with the work that she kept getting more and more landscaping done over a period of three years. Sunday, she was browsing the home show because she may need to have some work done inside her home.

10 Ways to Achieve a Healthy Home Landscape Without Harming the Chesapeake Bay

From the Maryland Cooperative Extension:

1. Take a soil test every 3 to 4 years. Fertilize according to soil test recommendations. Use less than the recommended amounts listed on fertilizer packages.

2. Leave grass clippings on your lawn (grasscycling.) They are a source of nitrogen for your lawn and will not contribute to thatch build-up in fescue or bluegrass lawns.

3. Home gardeners tend to over-fertilize flower and vegetable gardens. Reduce or eliminate fertilizer applications in well-established beds if organic matter is being added each year.

4. Don’t fertilize trees and shrubs if they appear healthy and are making adequate shoot and leaf growth.

5. Compost plant residues or incorporate them directly into soil. Discard plants with serious disease problems.

6. When appropriate, substitute slow-release fertilizers for those that are highly soluble and substitute locally available organic fertilizers (well-decomposed farmyard manure, backyard compost and municipal leaf compost) for manufactured chemical fertilizers.

7. Keep fertilizers off hard surfaces. Rain water will carry fertilizer salts into storm drains and surface waters and contribute to nutrient pollution of our waterways.

8. Over time, rainfall causes bare soil to erode and become compacted. Keep bare soil covered with a mulch and plant ground covers in areas where turf won’t grow. Plant winter cover crops in vegetable gardens – like oats, winter rye and crimson clover.

9. Avoid excessive foot or equipment traffic to prevent soil compaction, especially when the soil is wet. Construct terraces for beds on sloped ground. Keep soil in raised beds framed with solid sides.

10. To melt winter ice, use calcium magnesium acetate (CMA), potassium chloride (KCl), sodium chloride (NaCl) or calcium chloride (CaCl2). Do not use urea, potassium nitrate, or other chemical fertilizers containing nitrogen or phosphorous. The salts in these fertilizers may burn the foliage and roots of adjacent plants and wash into and pollute waterways.

Authors : Jon Traunfeld, Regional Specialist, Home and Garden Information Center, Maryland Cooperative Extension

Reviewers: Patricia Steinhilber, Ph.D., Nutrient Management Coordinator, Maryland Cooperative Extension and Judy McGowan, Nutrient Management Specialist, Maryland Department of Agriculture
12/03; revised 9/05; 2/09

MATT’S MARCH TIP

To fertilize or not to fertilize – that is the question

You would think that with all the marketing of fertilizers in the Spring,  that it is impossible to grow anything without chemical intervention. Well, just go in time  before the advent of big Agriculture companies and realize that most plants survived and thrived without our chemical assistance. Many plants, shrubs, and trees are able to absorb exactly what they need from the soil, air and water and do not need additional Nitrogen, Phosphorous or Potassium. One of our major problems in our Watershed is that many of the fertilizers that are applied actually “run-off” into our water system instead of remaining in the soil for the plants to uptake. This causes issues for our water quality as the chemicals  leach into the aquifers and also run into the Bay and increases algae blooms and reduces water quality.

The first step before fertilizing is to have a soil test to determine your soil quality.  Once you know your soil quality and the PH of your soil, you can determine what type of fertilizers and how much should be applied onto your lawn, garden or plants.  When choosing the fertilizer – try to use SLOW RELEASE, ORGANIC fertilizer.  And always think about improving your soil quality by applying compost, organic matter and controlling the Ph.  These actions will help your plants thrive.  Please visit the Maryland Cooperative Extension’s web site at the link below for more information on fertilizing and soil testing. Also, please visit our link to the GROWING GREEN PLEDGE concerning lawn care.

Maryland Cooperative Extension

Growing Green Pledge

Customer Testimonials

I would like to take this opportunity to commend you and your staff for the excellent lawn care we received this past summer. The lawn mowing and shrub cutting were always completed on time and done in a very professional manner. Thanks again for a job well done. 
– Department of Natural Resources,
Licensing and Registration Services, Prince Frederick

I am truly impressed. Integrity is hard to find these days, especially in the business world. Be assured that when I need more landscape services, Ciminelli’s will be very high on my list and I will let my neighbors know as well
– Richard, Annapolis

The wall, rock wall and garden are exactly as we had hoped and we hope you will pass on our appreciation for a job very well done to Jose and his coworkers. They worked hard and did a fine job from start to finish.
– Robert, Davidsonville

Ciminelli’s Offers A Wide Variety Of Landscape Services

Since 1991, Ciminelli’s Landscape Services in Lothian, Maryland has provided complete landscape, hardscape, and specialized eco-scaping/greenscaping work in and around the Annapolis area, combining professionalism with unmatched customer service that has earned them recognition as a leader in home beautifying.

Ciminelli’s prides itself on the amazing variety of custom landscaping services they are able to provide, not only in designing new garden beds and terraces, but also incorporating water features and drainage solutions. They are also experts in yard maintenance, and provide trimming and pruning, leaf removal, and lawn care.

Hardscaping is one of the company’s specialties. Ciminelli’s is well known in the local area as an innovator in the design of patios, stone walks, retaining walls, and driveways that blend naturally with the overall look of the grounds. Using stone, flagstone, and masonry as well as pervious pavers and segmented blocks, an amazing variety of custom hardscape plans can be created. The professionals at Ciminelli’s are dedicated to combining both the stone and garden aspects of their work into an overall design that makes each job one of a kind.

Another part of the company’s efforts is in the area of eco-scaping, where attention to green roof and green wall technology comes into play. The incorporation of plants as part of vertical walls is an exciting and attractive way to control heat transfer from inside a structure to the surrounding environment, and vice-versa. Special rain garden landscaping allows for slow percolation of water into the soil, greatly reducing runoff into storm drains. These plant beds are typically filled with species that hold water in place, acting as a sponge that further stifles unwanted lateral water movement.

The company website, www.ciminellislandscape.com/services, give prospective customers the opportunity to view picture samples of recent work, as well as offer numerous testimonials from satisfied homeowners. They give online estimates of their service costs based on the details given by the shopper. All of their work is 100% guaranteed, and their company philosophy is simple — providing high quality landscape and maintenance with responsive and friendly customer service. Ciminelli’s has been recognized by various organizations as a leader in eco-friendly technology and implementation.

MATT’S FEBRUARY TIP

What is the best way to handle snow and ice on your walkways, driveways or patios.  How about the snow flattening your beautiful foundation shrubs? If you are snowblowing, plowing or shoveling – be aware of the plants in the area you are moving the snow to.  This “manmade” snow cover is usually the most damaging because it is denser and slower to melt.  Natural snow cover is beneficial and acts as an insulator. If your plants are bending over from the weight of the snow and you are able to gently remove snow before heavy ice buildup – you can do so with a soft broom sweeping upward and allowing the snow to fall off the plants.  Do not attempt to remove ice or try to remove snow from overhead branches which can fall and cause injury or property damage. Prune any cracked or broken branches as soon as possible after the snow melt to prevent additional splintering or disease.

We recommend using ice melt products that are specifically designed for the  surface you are treating.  Concrete pavers and natural stone can be pitted and stained by salt, which can lead to cracking and failure.  (contact us if you have damaged pavers or stone – one of their major benefits is the ability to repair small areas without tearing up the entire surface )  Salt can also harm lawns and plants when it runs off your driveway. If your plants have been exposed to salt water and rinse well as soon as temperatures are above freezing. And don’t forget about all the salt you are bringing home on your car tires and shoes – rinse off your driveway and walkways.

Landscaping Makes the Difference

No matter what a yard needs, professional landscaping makes all the difference in the world. Is there a low-lying area in the yard that stays muddy, why not add a water feature? If someone wants a low-maintenance patio, artistic, practical stone masonry works wonders. Professionals can create affordable masterpieces sure to impress neighbors and to invite people inside the home to get outside in the outdoor property. If the front area demands more curb appeal, or if someone desires a garden in the back of the house, any outdoor space can improve with expert loving care and attention.

When the house is new and the land around is bare, it is as if landscapers have a blank canvas before them, but an overworked, tired, or forgotten piece of property, overgrown and in disrepair is also full of possibilities. Proficient landscapers can provide any needed service for lawn and garden. They can set up outdoor lighting, install desired drainage systems, do mulching around plants and trees, prune trees and shrubbery. Additionally, they can do all necessary maintenance to keep the yard looking in top condition.

Now, when landscapers add new elements, native plants are perfect choices for attractive low-maintenance spaces. The nurseries have many fabulous native and low-care options. Home and business owners can always choose the types of plants included in the landscape, but professionals can advise them on the best plants to fit what the owners want to achieve for their outdoor space. Simple or elaborate, outdoor designs can be spectacular. A healthy lawn and a few choice plants or trees may be just right for the area, but the owner may want to install some walkways, raised beds, a grill pit and more. Landscape artists not only help with design, but they install and manage all upkeep for reasonable rates. The positive change landscaping brings is very effective for outdoor properties.

Going Green with Eco Scaping

Whether it be to save water, save the environment or save money, eco-scaping offers a lot of options for garden-lovers. By using new technology as well as reusing resources, it possible to improve the look of a yard and use less tap water without causing detrimental damage to the environment. Think all of those lush lawns and gardens with fountains pay an arm and a leg for that beauty? Think they are all harming the environment? Think again.

Here are some simple ways you can change your garden. Instead of “landscaping,” try some of these suggestions to turn your yard into a beautiful “eco-scaped” scene:

Hard-scaping– Try using detailed tiles and neutral pavers to build beautiful opportunities for patios to rest on, paths to explore and driveways for spacious parking. By changing up your outside utopia to include these features, it not only makes your home more attractive and interesting, it can also save resources and money by reducing the need for expensive landscaping. This means that there is less water, fertilizer, pesticide and other chemical additives being used on those spaces. This keeps money in your wallet as well as reduces the impact of chemicals on the environment.

Retaining Walls– Add soil barriers that keep the ground soil in place as a way to reduce leaching, run-off and erosion. This can create beautiful, intricate scenes built at various levels around your yard as well as reduce the amount of topsoil leaving your yard. This helps reduce erosion, meaning your plants stay healthier and you do not have to replace the nutrient-rich topsoil as often.

Rainwater Collecting – Save the water that naturally comes into your yard during rain. This water can be used to water plants, fill ponds and fountains, wash cars, keep bird baths filled and complete other tasks around the yard without coming from your tap or undergoing expensive water treatment processes.

For a sample of all of these suggestions as well as other ways to work eco-scaping into your landscape, check out: https://www.ciminellislandscape.com/services/ Here, they offer a variety of services and options to increase the appearance and cost-efficiency of your yard while saving the environment.