Spring Newsletter 2023 

March is a great time to take stock of your yard. Taking care of your lawn and landscape in the Spring can help prevent weed growth and encourages your grass roots to grow deep & strong - which results in a lawn that stays healthy and beautiful even when the weather is hot and dry. 

Spring cleanup is the first round of attention that your lawn, garden, trees, shrubs, and landscape receive after winter. As your lawn responds to Mother Nature’s wake-up call we prepare it for a year of healthy growth with the care it needs to help it thrive! We tackle the tough and tedious to ensure your lawn can defend itself against this year's wave of weeds, diseases, and drought. 

We want your lawn and landscape to look beautiful and have tremendous curb appeal, but it is equally as important to us that your property looks and stays healthy, and that your investment is protected and perfected. 

The professionals at Sound Garden Landscaping provide the TLC needed to encourage a healthful, unimpaired growing season. If you’re not already a Sound Garden Landscaping client, we would love to add you to our growing list of satisfied, happy customers. 

Maybe you’re wondering why Spring cleanups are so essential, and what exactly do they entail? We've created a list of what we offer our customers, and why it’s essential for a strong Spring start that will lead to a successful & healthy grow season. 

Pruning: Pruning allows for the removal of dead or dying branches as well as branch stubs and branches injured by disease, severe insect infestation, animals, storms, or other mechanical damage. 
* We prune trees, flowers and shrubs damaged by winter, wind, snow and cold, focusing on removing dead, disease, and damaged limbs and branches.
*  We believe pruning is one of the most important tasks to complete before the Spring season begins. Because plants and their pests are dormant this time of year, pruning cuts can be made without the risk of pests and pathogens entering the tree through the wound. 
* It’s also important to prune flowering perennials and ornamental grasses to facilitate new growth. We prune to improve plant form. Crossing branches tend to rub against each other and develop wounds. These wounds allow for disease and pests to get under bark and into stems, causing issues for the plant down the road. 
* Pruning opens up tree canopies, increasing airflow and light to stems and branches.
 * More light means more flowers, leaves and fruits. 
* More light & air reduces moisture and potential disease caused by bacterial and fungal pathogens. 

Spring Cleanup & Raking: Raking out fallen leaves, corn shucks, pine cones, dead foliage, lingering fall leaves, and grass that didn’t survive winter is a necessity. Removing dead and stray leaves is important to prevent snow mold - a fungal disease. We ensure every leaf is raked, blown out, and tarped - so that your lawn looks spotless and refreshed to start the new season. 
Edging: Having clean, crisp borders between your lawn, walkways, sidewalks, and garden beds will make your lawn appear clean, manicured, and professionally maintained. Having untidy edges to your yard makes your lawn look unkempt, even with regular mowing and proper irrigation and fertilization. We take the extra effort (at no extra cost to you) to clean up those edges and give your lawn a masterful look. 
* Edging keeps the grass from creeping into your landscape beds, so that all that hard work you did to plant those flowers and mulch your beds doesn't get overshadowed by grass peeking up through the mulch. It also gives your landscape beds a very clean crisp look, making your yard something to be envied. 

Mowing: Your lawn requires vigilant care and regular maintenance in order to stay green, lush, full & healthy. Neglected lawns can begin to get dry, patchy & weedy. Scheduling regular maintenance with our lawn care professionals allows you to maintain a beautiful, flourishing, and healthful exterior. Following the 1/3 rule, our professional crew leave just enough surface area on grass blades to absorb light and nutrients for greener, fuller lawns. A good mow is especially imperative as the weather changes and grass returns from dormancy. 

Thatch Removal: Power raking is a process of removing excess thatch from a lawn using a specialized machine that rakes the lawn at a high rate of speed using multiple rakes. Power raking can help revitalize a lawn by removing dead grass and leaves that may be preventing water and fertilizer from absorbing into the ground and overcrowding grass roots. We recommend power raking in Spring or Fall, and prior to Spring Cleanups & applying fertilizer . 

* What is Thatch?  Thatch is a build-up of organic matter which can include dead grass, leaves, stems, overcrowded grass roots and lateral weed growth. Thatch can stifle the growth and health of grass. 
Removing the thatch helps the grass by encouraging it to thicken up and also makes it stronger and less susceptible to disease. Reducing thatch levels increases the levels of water, air and nutrients that can get through to the root zone of the grass plants. Significant thatch problems in lawns can cause diseases and can encourage moss to grow in the areas where grass has died. Raking controls thatch buildup. Excessive thatch prevents air, water and nutrients from reaching plant roots and can leave your lawn more vulnerable to drought, as well as to insect and disease damage. 

Aeration: We recommend aerating prior to putting fertilizer down & having your lawn cleaned up in early Spring. Aeration involves perforating the soil with small holes to allow air, water and nutrients to penetrate the grass roots. 
This helps the roots grow deeply and produce a stronger, more vigorous lawn. The main reason for aerating is to alleviate soil compaction. Compacted soils have too many solid particles in a certain volume or space, which prevents proper circulation of air, water and nutrients within the soil. Excess lawn thatch or heavy organic debris buried under the grass surface can also starve the roots from these essential elements. Deprived of their basic needs by compacted soil, lawn grasses struggle in stressful situations, such as heat and low rainfall, and lose their healthy, rich color. 

Weed Removal: Weeds are parasitic plants that can do major damage to landscapes. They take up valuable resources that desired plants need, including light, nutrients, soil, space, and water. Some weeds carry crop diseases and produce toxic chemicals. We provide exemplary weed control services you can rely on to keep your lawn & property looking great all year long. The longer you wait to control weeds, the bigger the problem for your landscape. 
Proper maintenance of your lawn will save you a lot of time and money.
  * Keeping your lawn well-watered, properly fertilized, and at a proper length are all ways to keep weeds at bay. Spring is a great time to eliminate weeds because they are in their initial-growth phase. 
* We can prevent weeds from developing fully by targeting weeds in their sprouting stage. We spray with each visit (if necessary) to remove those pesky plants to ensure a gorgeous weed-free landscape. 
* A very thick well maintained lawn will leave no gaps in the canopy where weeds can take root. 
* When the grass is thick, it will take in all of the sunlight and nutrients, which will block the weeds from thriving. 

Compost, Compost, Compost: Become the newest member of our community composting campaign (details can be found on our website - www.SoundGardenLandscaping.com) We pick up your food and yard scraps and turn it into black gold! Then, we bring you 1/2 yard of compost 2x a year to use however you'd like. If you are interested in composting and don’t know where to start, we’d be happy to build you a bin, or show you how it’s done. If you’re already composting, good for you! 
* Composting is a great way to simultaneously reduce waste and nourish your landscape. A variety of food scraps and household items can be added to compost, and with the right ratio of ingredients, simple maintenance, and patience, you’ll end up with a nutrient-rich humus that can be used as a soil amendment or organic fertilizer for your plants. Our 2023 goal is to begin planning/constructing a Community Garden in Wheatland where we grow fruits, herbs, & vegetables to assist our local families with food insecurity.

 Fertilizer Application; Feeding Your Plants, Lawn, Trees, Shrubs, and Garden: Like us, plants need nutrients in varying amounts for healthy growth. 
* There are 17 essential nutrients that all plants need, including carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, which plants get from air and water. 
* The remaining 14 are obtained from soil but may need to be supplemented with fertilizers or organic materials such as compost. 
* Nitrogen, phosphorus, and potassium are needed in larger amounts than other nutrients; they are considered primary macronutrients. 
* Secondary macronutrients include sulfur, calcium, and magnesium. 
* Micronutrients such as iron and copper are necessary in much smaller amounts. 
We work with TurfMasters, right here in Wheatland, to formulate a fertilizer plan that is tailored to your specific & individual lawn needs. 
** We apply fertilizer in four stages beginning in late March/ early April and continuing throughout our landscape season (ending in late November). The very best time for fertilization is in the Spring when the soil temperature - not the air temp - reaches 55 degrees. 
Fertilizers add nutrients like nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium to the soil to help plant & lawn growth. Fertilizers are important in lawn care because they supplement the soil with needed nutrients. Nutrients are needed by grass plants because of the many stresses people apply to them. 
Grass uses nutrients to repair damage done by normal wear & mowing. 
* Other plants in the landscape - such as trees, flowers, and weeds also consume the nutrients. Nutrients are lost when clippings are removed while mowing. 

* Pre-Emergent crabgrass-fertilizer preventer combinations contain a weed preventer specifically targeting the tiny seedlings of warm season annual grasses. 
The weed preventer works as the grasses just emerge from the seed, but before they are visible above ground. 
* With compost, organic fertilizer, or a fertilizer of your preference tailored to the existing plantings on the soil surface. Along with the spring rain, or just by watering (or moisture from snow), we get it worked in so it can be carried to the plant's roots. 
It aids in establishing beds, to increase germination, growth, and productivity. 

Tilling New Ground For New Beds: Turning your soil twice a year is a good defense against weeds and other insects from invading and damaging your plants. Tilling also helps break down weed roots, along with the homes of other insects, helping to prevent these pests from intruding your garden. 

Drip Line / Irrigation & Blowouts: The emitters slowly drip water into the soil at the root zone. Because moisture levels are kept at an optimal range, plant productivity and quality improve. In addition, drip irrigation: Prevents disease by minimizing water contact with the leaves, stems, and fruit of plants. We double check your system, and can fix any disconnects, clogs, or missing line to ensure the proper amount of water is reaching your plants, flowers, trees & shrubs. We also provide blowout service. 

Remove Old Mulch/Winter Leaves: Old mulch and packed leaves can smother perennials and other plants, so it's important to declutter your beds and add a new mulch layer. * Mulch needs to be replaced after a while because it will decompose. If you fail to replace the mulch, it will no longer provide nutrients to the soil. Along with that, as it decomposes it loses its consistency, and eventually, it will not be able to perform many of the other functions that you expect from mulch. 

Soil Tests: We test soil pH to assemble the right amendments. Soil test results provide information about the soil's ability to supply nutrients to plants for adequate growth and are the basis of deciding how much lime and fertilizer are needed. 
Correct soil pH is essential to ensure optimal plant growth and crop yield, because it allows nutrients to be freely available for plants to take in. 
Testing the pH of your soil helps to determine what plants are best suited for that area. 

Spring Seeding/Overseeding: We prepare damaged lawn areas for spring seeding. Overseeding is a natural and cost-effective way of reducing the need for pesticides, water, and fertilizer. 
* Overseeding enhances the color and consistency of your lawn's appearance. It can also prevent weeds from growing by helping to thicken your lawn's canopy and preventing light from hitting the soil. 
* Overseeding can help you achieve a thicker lawn. A dense yard of grass effectively holds soil and water in place, reducing run-off and soil erosion. This improves your lawn's health by allowing it to contain moisture and nutrients. 
 * We work in compost or fertilizer which increases germination rates. 

Hardscape Cleanup & Construction: We assess, repair, construct, and replace a variety of hardscapes. Raking escaped gravel back into patios and walkways; refill joints between flagstones with new sand or stone dust; replenish base; fix out of place or broken pavers. 
We also build retaining walls, paver patios, and a variety of garden designs. 

Protecting Gardens From Pests & Fence Design and Build: From simple designs to acreage protection, we can make it happen. We also replace wobbly posts, wind damaged, and rotted boards. 

Building Raised Beds: Raised beds warm up more quickly in the spring and drain better (assuming the soil is properly prepared), allowing for a longer growing season and better growing conditions. 
They become a nice addition to your lawn & garden design ideas. Raised flower beds can be a great way to make any showy blooming shrub really stand out. A perfect way to create privacy while adding beauty 

 Landscape Berms:  Berms are often used toward the outside perimeter of the landscape to separate the lawn from the surrounding woodland areas, or as a separation from your neighbors backyard. The raised areas also provide an elevated space to more easily view and appreciate ornamental plantings. 

Give Us A Call/Text/Email Today To Get On Our List For Spring Lawn & Landscape Maintenance!