At-home gardening

The Fastest-Growing Trees for Privacy and Curb Appeal

May 4, 2021 by admin

Whether you’ve lost a tree, want to boost your curb appeal, or need a little more privacy from a nosy neighbor, sometimes you want a species that will grow fast. What are the best choices?

Northern Illinois is in the hardiness zone 5A, so you’ll want to look for trees that grow well in zones 4 and 5. In addition to making sure your tree can thrive in our climate, you’ll also want to consider factors such as size, shape, and space needs. Here are some top choices for fast-growing trees that will do well in zone 5A.

Boxelder

The boxelder or ash-leaf maple is a fast-growing, easy-care tree that grows in full sun and moist soil. It grows up to 50 feet tall and has compound leaves that are light yellow in early spring, green in summer, and yellow-brown in fall. Known as Acer negundo and belonging to the maple family, the boxelder can reach 15 feet tall in just four to five years.

Red Maple

The beautiful red maple—also known as swamp maple and botanically as Acer rubrum—is a fast-growing wetland tree that grows in full sun or partial shade in any soil. While it may reach up to 120 feet tall, it typically grows 40 to 50 feet tall. The red maple may grow up to 12 feet in its first five to seven years, making it an ideal choice for privacy and curb appeal.

Silver Maple

It’s hard to stroll down any suburban Chicagoland street without seeing a silver maple. Known by the botanical name of Acer saccharinum, these beautiful maples may reach 60 to 80 feet tall. The leaves are green on top and silver on the bottom, and they turn a deep red or yellow in fall. The silver maple grows in full sun or partial shade in moist, well-drained soil.

River Birch

Looking for something other than a maple? The river birch, or Betula nigra, is a fast-growing tree with red-brown bark. Its glossy leaves are about three inches long and turn bright yellow in the fall. River birches may reach 50 to 70 feet and may grow up to three feet per growing season. This hardy tree is also a popular choice for moist, acidic soil where sometimes no other tree will thrive. In addition, the river birch can tolerate full sun or partial shade.

Paper Birch

The paper birch or Betula papyrifera is another hardy, fast-growing member of the birch family. On average, paper birches grow 50 to 70 feet tall, with some reaching up to 100 feet in height. And they grow fast, up to two feet per growing season. The leaves are about three inches long, turning from light green to yellow or orange in the fall. You’ve likely seen many paper birches, identifiable by their chalky bark that can look like layers of paper. Paper birches thrive in full sun or partial shade and do need regular watering.

Fast-growing shrubs

When you want to block a clear view of your yard, a fast-growing easy-care hedge can be the perfect answer. It creates a wall of green that can be beautiful and easy to care for. Select hedge varieties that thrive in zones 4 and 5. Good choices include boxwood, mountain mahogany, holly hybrids, and plantings of arborvitae.

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Simple Lawn Care Tips for Spring

April 2, 2021 by admin

After months of cold and snow, a green lawn is a welcome sight. The first few weeks of spring are important for getting your lawn on track for a healthy growing season. Get a jump on your spring lawn care with these simple-to-follow tips.

Tune up your mower

Now is the time to tune up your mower. Change the oil, air filter, and spark plug (safety tip: before you start, disconnect the spark plug wire so that the engine won’t start accidentally). Clean the mower’s top and undercarriage, especially if dirt and grass clippings have hardened on the blade. Fill the fuel tank and you’re ready to mow.

Clean and rake

Next, clean your yard. Pick up any branches, sticks, and trash the snow has hidden. Rake out dead grass. Compost dead grass and branches or dispose of them in your yard waste collection.

Fix bare patches

Take stock of bare spots. Rake and prepare the soil, sow grass seed, and water daily for at least two weeks. Do not mow newly seeded areas until the grass is at least two inches tall (better yet, wait until it’s the same height as the rest of your lawn).

Mow properly

Remember to mow high. Give your lawn a chance to establish deep, thriving roots that will nourish it all season long. Aim to keep your mower blade 2 ½ inches from the roots, and never cut more than 1/3 of the grass blade. And, be sure that you’re always mowing with very sharp mower blades.

Fertilize your lawn

Feed your lawn at the time of the first mowing. Rapidly growing grass needs the most nutrients. You can choose to apply a fast-acting organic fertilizer, or you can opt for longer-lasting organic garden manure. Manure is less costly though much more time-intensive to apply.

Edge and mulch

It’s easiest to edge and clean up beds when soil is soft in the early spring. Use a sharp garden spade or edger to cut a V-shaped trench two to three inches deep along the beds. Refresh mulch with two to three inches around (but not on top of) your plants. Be sure to include your trees in your mulching. Mulch depresses weeds, helps trees retain moisture, and protects them from mowers. Be sure the mulch near your trees is no more than two to four inches deep and ensure it isn’t too high against the base of the trunk. Proper mulching ends just before the base of the tree.

Prevent weeds

Consider applying a 3-in-1 turf builder if dandelions, crabgrass, and other weeds encroach on your lawn. Your mulch application should discourage weeds in your flower beds; inspect and weed as necessary.

Bust grubs

By late spring, grubs are chewing their way to the surface and feeding on lawns before they become beetles. If you have had a grub problem in the past, this is the time to treat them. The same advice applies if your neighbors have a grub infestation, as these pests don’t pay attention to property lines.

Care for your trees

Be sure to incorporate tree care into your spring lawn care routine! Inspect your trees for winter damage or rely on a certified arborist. Pruning in the early spring can head off problems, reducing the risk that a strong summer storm will take out a winter-damaged branch (or tree). Other options include cabling or bracing weaker limbs. If you’re considering adding new trees to your landscape, spring is the perfect time for planting.

From your trees to your lawn, your entire yard is connected. Building a healthy lawn now helps ensure a healthy growing system and proper balance in your yard all season long.

Expert Gardening Advice for At-home Gardeners

February 11, 2021 by admin

Gardening season is right around the corner. Late winter is the perfect time to plan your spring gardening—and spring is the right time to get started.

Here are some expert gardening tips to help you have a great growing season this year.

The right site

If you’re growing vegetables, herbs or flowers, you’ll want to choose the right site. Choose a location you can see from your home, so you’ll remember to water and care for your garden.

Start small

With more time at home these days, you might be tempted to go big when it comes to your garden. Here, the old adage of “don’t bite off more than you can chew” applies. Using concepts like square-foot gardening, you can actually fit quite a lot of plants into a small space. You’ll also be able to keep up with weeding, watering, and pruning in a small space.

Know your sun

Track how the sun moves through your yard as spring gets underway. You’ll want to know how many hours of sun your intended garden location receives, and what direction the sun comes from. A south-facing garden plot will get the warmer rays of the sun later in the day and may be better for tomatoes and bold blooms like sunflowers and zinnia. Partial shade is ideal for other kinds of plants like sweet pea and columbine.

Watch the last frost date

Spring can bring warm days but very cool nights—and an occasional late-season freeze. Be sure to know your hardiness zone (northern Illinois is Zone 5A) and use it to guide your planting. You want to choose plants that are hardy to your zone. A good rule of thumb is that cold-hardy seeds like lettuce and carrots can go into the ground in early April, but you’ll want to wait to plant vegetables like tomatoes and zucchinis until well after the last average frost date of April 30. This is why many people wait to plant flowers and fruiting vegetables until at least mid-May.

Water, water

Locate your garden near water. Make sure the hose can reach or consider a soaker hose system that allows you to drip water to roots. The easier it is to water your garden, the better you’ll keep up when the hot days of July and August roll around.

Plant in good soil

Good soil grows better plants. The soil in your yard may not be ideal for what you want to grow. In northern Illinois, there can be a lot of clay in the soil, which can lead to wet, poorly draining growing conditions. Unless you’re working with this—and native plants that like water are good choices here—you’ll want to improve your soil.

You can work in compost, topsoil, and other organic matter to improve your soil. Or you can opt for container gardens or raised-bed gardening, and you can customize the soil blend that you use. You might find that the investment pays off in a better gardening experience.

Gardening can be a great way to be closer to nature, spend more time outside, and beautify your yard. A little bit of research and planning can go a long way toward enjoying it more. Reach out to discuss how we can help you with your at-home gardening this season.