Tag Archives: Maryland

Native Plantings

For the gardnener who is willing to take a walk on the wild side, landscaping with native plants may be the perfect outlet. With so much emphasis being placed on having manicured lawns and hedges that are neat and well-defined, native plants and trees are often rejected in favor of popular non-natives.

Native Plants Have Staying Power
Indigenous plants adapt to changes in their environment and manage to hang in there from season to season. This means that native require less special treatment to maintain heartiness when used in landscaping and often require less water and fertilizer. Some plants present beautiful flowers in spring to attract pollinating insects then produce fruit in the fall to feed birds and small mammals.

Going Native Benefits The Environment
Because native plantings require less water, gardeners who choose this type of landscaping can expect to reduce water usage significantly. With many municipalities issuing water conservation mandates, using native plants is one way to comply and still enjoy beautiful landscaping.

Native Plantings and Wildlife
Real estate developments often misplace wildlife and when the native plants that they depend upon are destroyed, these animals often relocate. Getting rid of certain critters may be desirable in some ways but such migration often causes an imbalance in the number and type of other pests that are left behind. Birds often use native plants for food and shelter. Eastern Red Cedar trees, for example, are known to attract the Northern Mockingbird, Purple Finch, and the Downy Woodpecker. Many birds feed on specific types of insects which reproduce on certain types of plants. If the plants are destroyed, some insects will go missing and the birds who feed exclusively on them will as well. Also, such a population shift allows harmful insect populations to increase which then require pesticides to control.

Native Planting Adds Biodiversity
There are many native plants to choose from, including trees and flowering plants. Composites, or plants made up of many parts, are excellent for attracting beneficial insects. It is important to research what native plants are preferable before adding native plantings to any landscape.

MATT’S JULY TIP

Have you thrown your hands up to Mother Nature yet? If not, then  you must have had Ciminelli’s Landscape Services renovate your landscaping to include native plantings, properly chosen plants, rain barrels, rain gardens, drainage control and beautiful, low maintenance hardscaping. Most yards will look good in April and May, but the real test of the sustainability of your landscaping starts now. We can help you plan for the tougher times of the year so that your yard looks beautiful in every season.  Consider a hardscaping feature like a patio, walkway or planted retaining wall for a useful area that you can use year-round.  Install rain barrels and rain gardens to capture those flash summer rains.  Renovate your drainage to re-direct damaging water flows and finally, plant choice is critical for reducing maintenance.  Please give our office a call if you would like a free consultation and estimate for changes to your landscaping.

Landscape Drainage Ideas

Landscape drainage ideas One of the most important decisions when landscaping is regarding drainage. Improper drainage can lead to erosion, puddles of standing water, and even property damage. The last thing you want to do is have your yard ruined by standing water, turning it into a muddy mess! Here are some ideas on choosing the right drainage system for you. One of the best times to see how your yard drains is after a heavy rainstorm. If you find standing water and drenched beds, it is recommended that you install a drain line or two.

One option is called a channel drain. These drains are ideal for keeping runoff from your patio from flooding the nearby landscaping. They are installed into the concrete to guide water away from the house and into a pipe which sits below the concrete level. Yard debris is kept out of the pipe by a protective grate that sits along the channel. The channel drain is connected to another pipe, which guides water away from the house. Channel drains are also reccomened for pool owners to help keep chlorinated water away from the house foundation and off of the lawn. French drains are another popular option. Although it sounds fancy, French drains are simply trenches lined with pipes or gravel. French drains are best for sloping yards, or for yards that have excess water runoff from neighboring properties. The ideal location for such a drain would be an out-of-the-way area with sandy soil where the water could collect harmlessly. If you have a downspout tie-in on your roof gutter system, you may want to consider a catch drain. This type of drain is usually connected to a catch basin, which is a concrete or plastic drain that is tied into a larger, underground drainage system. The advantage to this system is that excess water doesn’t build up around your home’s foundation.

Hardscaping is a Great Investment

When individuals think about beautifying their outdoor space they typically think about living additions like trees, shrubs and flowers but permanent structures can be an even better investment in the long run.

Flowers, trees and shrubs are classified as landscaping; stone patios, retaining walls and stone steps are called hardscaping. Hardscaping offers a strong focal point for an outdoor area. Adding stone to existing features such as steps and walls is a good alternative when the existing layout of the area should be preserved.

Patios
A traditional patio can be taken to the next level with the addition of stone. Stone patios have a strong Mediterranean and European vibe which instantly beautifies and adds value to the home. A stone patio is stronger than wood and doesn’t require the care and upkeep of wood; stone is water resistant, unlike wood.

Walkways
Having clearly defined walkways makes the outdoors pleasant to roam around in. With stone walkways the elements are not an issue and the stone work retains its beauty for years to come. Stone walkways are weed-proof and waterproof reducing time and maintenance costs.

Stone Water Features
Fountains and ponds are a multi-sensory experience that creates a luxurious and tranquil atmosphere. The air around the pond or fountain is cooled by the water and they attract various species of birds. A water feature is a one time investment that lasts for decades.

Retaining Walls
Instead of having unsightly concrete retaining walls in plain view why not cover it up and make it a focal point by going the stone route instead. The quality stone work is eye catching and attractive.

Hardscaping and Landscaping Combined
Stone features are easily accented with landscaping touches like decorative shrubs, flowers and foliage. The stone work provides the backbone and structure of the exterior space allowing for greater creativity with fewer plants which means that each and every plant in the yard can be a carefully selected favorite.

Stone hardscaping makes a beautiful addition to the exterior of a home that is elegant and maintenance free for years to come.

Customer Testimonials

Thank you very much for all your help with the driveway project. It came out great and we are very pleased with it! 
– Brian and Sue

Everything looks beautiful! Matt really understood our needs and gave us a great design. We will definitely recommend your company to our friends. 
– The Lehman’s

Thank you very much to Ciminelli’s Landscape Services for repairing our fire pit; what a fabulous job. The fire pit has brought our family much enjoyment with many evenings fires. It’s so pleasing to receive a compliment on our retaining wall and to know that I can confidently refer my family and friends to Ciminelli’s Landscape Services for an exceptional product with service and support after the purchase.
– Dave and Kathie

Just a short note to tell you how happy we are with our new front yard. Your crew were courteous and excellent workers. I was so impressed by their initiative. They all took pride in their work. Thank you so much!
– Carol and Arnie

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

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