August Lawn and Garden Checklist

A lawn and garden checklist might be just the thing you need to get motivated to be in the yard again this month.

lawn and garden checklist

August is usually one of the hottest months in Minnesota. The days are long and filled with the best parts of summer – afternoons at the lake, county fairs, and cool evenings with family and friends.

It can be hard to spend time in the yard during the day, but early mornings and evenings are the perfect time to enjoy your yard and garden and do a little maintenance.

Lawn and Garden Checklist

Here’s a lawn and garden checklist for the month of August to keep your yard lookings it’s best and to help you get ready for fall.

lawn and garden checklist

Lawn

  • Prepare for fall or late summer planting by leveling the area and removing any weeds
  • Aerate and dethatch your lawn
  • Keep your lawn mower blades at the highest setting to help your grass in the heat and reduce lawn maintenance

Yard and Garden Checklist

Annuals and Perennials

  • Spring and summer-flowering perennials can be divided and transplanted during the cooler time of day
  • Trim and fertilize containers to encourage another show of flowers
  • Manage late-summer pests like aphids, whiteflies, Japanese beetles and spider mites with a spray of water from the hose
  • Propagate plants by taking cuttings, layering and collecting seeds
  • Continue deadheading
  • Treat diseased plants and remove affected areas before the leaves drop

lawn and garden checklist

Vegetables and Herbs

lawn and garden checklist

Maintain

  • Water as needed. Early morning is the best time to water. Target plants directly and water deeply
  • Avoid mold, stagnation and mosquito larvae in birdbaths, water features, and hummingbird feeders
  • Continue weeding
  • Add compost and fertilizer to prepare for fall plantings

Creating a Yard that Reflects Your Personality

A yard is more than just the land around your house. It’s an extension of your home and a reflection of you and your personality. There is nothing more enjoyable than a quiet evening outside in a space that a reflection of your personality. Creating a yard that is really “you” doesn’t have to be a complicated undertaking. By keeping a few key things in mind, you can have a yard you love.

How to create a yard that reflects your personality

This basalt columns water feature was recently added to a landscaping project in Excelsior.

This basalt columns water feature was recently added to a landscaping project in Excelsior.

Have fun with accent pieces

Accent pieces are the easiest way to add a little pizzaz to your yard. From fountains to garden statues and lighting options, there are thousands of little and big ways you can make your yard uniquely yours. If you’re still a little stumped, simply follow your heart. If something brings a smile to your face, it is probably something that reflects a part of your personality. Whether you like immaculate flower selections or quirky gnomes, create a yard that brings you joy.

A deck or patio is an ideal space to entertain guests.

A deck or patio is an ideal space to entertain guests.

Create a comfortable space to spend time

Your yard should be a place you want to spend time – when the weather is right, of course. For some, that might mean a comfortable lounging area where they can read a book and enjoy a glass of wine. For others, it might be a large outdoor dining area where they can entertain family and friends with a cozy fire pit for warm summer nights. Or maybe you want to be able to enjoy both of those things. Whichever you prefer, create a space that is welcoming and inviting to you and to guests.

Steps were installed at a project in Eden Prairie to access a woodsy in the back yard. Great Goats also planted trees and shrubs that will be low-maintenance while thriving in the area.

Steps were installed at a project in Eden Prairie to access a woodsy in the back yard. Great Goats also planted trees and shrubs that will be low-maintenance while thriving in the area.

Incorporate plants that suit your personality

Choose plants and flower that fit the type of feeling you are trying to achieve with your yard. Maybe you love the look of casual wildflowers or maybe you prefer a clean, manicured garden. Whatever look you love, also keep in mind the amount of care and upkeep plants will require, as well as what type of conditions they will thrive in.

Outdoor Trends that Boost the Value of Your Home

July is almost here, and summer is full swing! Now is a great time to get outside to plant a few more annuals, fire up the grill and host a party in your backyard. There are many outdoor trends that add value to your home and make your yard easier to use on a daily basis. If your outdoor space isn’t quite the way you’d like it to be, now is the perfect time to get it in shape.

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Outdoor trends that add value

Here are a few trends we’ve been seeing that will give you a yard you love and boost the value of your home at the same time.

Add a dining area

Adding a deck or patio area is a great way to increase the living space of your home. Indoor/outdoor living is a huge trend right now and is all about extending the inside comforts of home outdoors. Your backyard, deck or patio can be a part of your home that you use every day and with the right design and furniture can be just as comfortable. A comfortable outdoor dining area can be the perfect space for drinking your morning coffee or entertaining family and friends.

Install a fire pit

There is nothing that says summer like spending time around a fire pit with friends and family, roasting hotdogs and marshmallows. Fire pits are a safe way to have a bonfire in your backyard. A metal fire ring and flagstone ensures no stray sparks or embers will catch on nearby vegetation.

outdoor trends

Fire pits with a low wall add visual interest and seating for family and friends.

Low-maintenance plantings

Planting low-maintenance gardens and drought-tolerant plants are a good choice for enjoying your yard while improving its curb appeal. Select perennials that will thrive in your planting zone. If you’re not sure what will fit well in your space, many greenhouse employees can offer advice.

A ground-level deck with integrated plantings.

A ground-level deck with integrated plantings.

Edible gardens

Another trend right now is planting gardens that are as productive as they are beautiful. Whether you have space for a full garden or just a container garden, consider planting plants like cherry tomatoes, basil, rosemary, mint, sage, tarragon, oregano, and other herbs. There is nothing better than putting together a recipe or salad with fresh herbs from your own garden.

Your June Yard and Garden Checklist

Yard and Garden Checklist

By the end of June, it is safe to say that summer is officially here! Everything is green and the growing season is in full swing. If your yard is like mine, everything has been planted and is ready for a bit of maintenance.

After the exciting planting season of May, it’s tempting to sit back and enjoy your garden, but now is the time to do the real work of gardening – tending to your plants and harvesting the fruits of your labor.

Yard and Garden Checklist

Restart your gardening engines and tick off a few tasks from June’s yard and garden checklist.

Everyone

  • Water new and fragile plants as needed, especially during hot stretches
  • Refill any bare spots of mulch before weeds move in
  • Side dress soil with compost or fertilizer
  • Watch for signs of nutrient deficiency in leaves
  • Move houseplants outdoors and give them a bit of fresh air
  • Keep water in birdbaths fresh and clean for our feathered friends

Ornamentals

  • Deadhead frequently to encourage plants to continue blooming for a long season
  • Pinch back flowers like asters, monarda, and helianthus to make them stockier and full of flower buds
  • Vegetables
  • Stop harvesting asparagus and rhubarb so they can build up reserves for next year
  • Replace leafy greens like spinach that have bolted from the heat
  • Plant any remaining warm season veggies like tomatoes, peppers and eggplant
  • Continue blanching tender greens, celery and cauliflower
  • Plant new batches of bush beans every couple of weeks to have a continuous harvest
  • Stake tomato plants as they grow and pinch off any suckers if needed
  • Use a couple drops of mineral oil on corn silks within a week after they appear to deter corn earworms

Trees and Shrubs

  • Prune or shape evergreens as soon as new growth starts to turn a darker green
  • Do maintenance pruning of wisteria once it finishes blooming to keep it in check

Pests

  • Be vigilant for summer insects! Check leaves for eggs and nymphs regularly
  • Watch for four-lined plant bug damage, especially with plants in the mint family
  • Japanese beetles will be back in the summer months

How to Make the Most of Your Backyard

Nothing says summer like long, warm days spent with family and friends in your backyard. Turning your backyard into a space that you’re proud of and can enjoy might seem like a big undertaking, but it doesn’t have to be. With the right help, it can be an easy process that results in a yard that you love.

backyard

There are so many features that can be added to a backyard to make it more comfortable. Selecting the right design will depend on the natural layout and soil type of your space and how you want to use your backyard once it’s complete. Here are some of our favorite design elements that can be added to a backyard to make it feel like an extension of your home.

A Backyard Fire Pit

Everyone has fond memories of nights spent around a crackling fire, roasting hot dogs and making s’mores. Adding a fire pit to your backyard creates a great place for friends and family to hangout and enjoy each other’s company. Fire pits lined with decorative pavers are safe and easy to maintain. Of course, before lighting any fires be sure to check for any local burn restrictions.

A Patio or Deck Area

There are a lot of benefits to adding a patio or deck to your yard. Entertaining is much easier with a level, solid area that can be used to host parties and get-togethers. You could even add a built-in seating and dining area or a cooking/grill station. Often, a patio or deck will increase the value of a home. Plus, there will be less lawn maintenance to worry about.

Lush Plantings and Landscaping Details

No backyard feels complete without thriving plants that added to the landscape design. The right plants add a finished look to any space and can transform a bland area into something that feels special. Work with your landscaper to select plants that require an amount of maintenance that you’re comfortable with. Other details that can be added to a landscaping design include water features, rocks or boulders, and decorative elements.

Why You Should Create a Pollinator-Friendly Yard

It shouldn’t be new information that pollinators, especially bees, are having a hard time right now. There are a variety of forces, man-made and environmental, that are negatively affecting pollinator populations. Fortunately, having a pollinator-friendly garden also means having a garden that is full of bright and fragrant flowers throughout the growing season.

pollinator-friendly

Why attracting pollinators is important

In the United States, up to a third of our agriculture output is dependent on pollinators. Bees, butterflies and hummingbirds all play a vital role in the production of healthy fruit and vegetables. They are encourage plant diversity and help maintain a healthy ecosystem.

How to create a pollinator-friendly yard

Fortunately, creating a bee and butterfly friendly yard isn’t that hard and the results are often stunning.

Planting pollinator-friendly plants

Start by planting nectar- and pollen-rich flowers. Native wildflowers are attractive to pollinators and will thrive in your area. At Native Plant Finder, you can see a selection of plants that are native to your zip code.

By planting a succession of blooming flowers and shrubs, you’ll be able to ensure that nectar and pollen are available through the growing season. Dill, fennel and milkweed are other great options for attracting butterflies.

The University of Minnesota Extension is another resource for choosing pollinator-friendly plants that will thrive in Minnesota.

Choose organic

Many pesticides and herbicides are toxic to pollinators. Even if those chemicals seem useful in the short term, it’s good to remember that they are also killing beneficial organisms when they are used. Using a more organic approach to weed and pest control is safer and more effective.

Provide shelter

Butterflies, bees and other pollinators need shelter to thrive and protect themselves from predators. Shelter can be created organically by letting your grass grow longer, or leaving leaves and other organic material undisturbed. You can also use artificial nesting boxes to increase the number of pollinators in your area.

Provide food and water

Pollinators need pollen and nectar to thrive. Consider adding special feeders to attract hummingbirds and butterflies.

They also need access to still water and can benefit from birdbaths and other small pools of standing water.

Plants to attract pollinators

  • Purple coneflower
  • Dill
  • Hollyhock
  • Joe-Pye weed
  • Globe centaurea
  • Peony
  • Turtlehead
  • Swamp milkweed
  • Yarrow
  • Queen Anne’s lace
  • Tawny daylily
  • ‘Marine’ heliotrope
  • Gayfeather
  • Butterfly weed
  • Petunia
  • Mountain bluet
  • Annual aster
  • Autumn Joy’ sedum
  • Rock cress
  • French marigold
  • Happy Returns’ daylily
  • Blanket flower
  • Nasturtium
  • Goldenrod

Create Your Dream Getaway – Right in Your Backyard

Who says that dream getaway has to be somewhere far away? With a little planning, you can create your perfect backyard getaway and have a peaceful retreat right out your door.

backyard

We all dream of getting away to somewhere quiet and peaceful, and we all would like to take a break from the hustle and bustle of everyday life. But sometimes planning even a weekend away can seem overwhelming.

Creating your perfect backyard

Everyone has different ideas of what the perfect little getaway would include. Of course, it’s pretty impossible to add a mountain or beach to your backyard, but it is possible to include elements of those locations in your landscaping design. Maybe creating a heavily shaded and secluded area will remind you of the mountains. Or maybe adding a hammock and the sound of running water will remind you of the beach.

Chat with your landscaping expert about what features would work in your backyard, and how you can create the backyard you’ve been dreaming of.

To get you started, here are some of our favorite backyard features.

Water elements

Water features come in a variety of shapes and sizes. It is easy to find or create options that fit everyone’s space and budget. Water can be a beautiful addition to a backyard for a variety of reasons. It can be used to add a visual point of interest and a calming noise and at the same time, help mask any unwanted noises like nearby traffic.

Pavers

Pavers can do more than just add a walkway from one place to another. They add an interesting element to your backyard or patio area and can be used to enhance and reinforce the design theme of your space. Pavers come in so many shapes and sizes that almost any design can be created, from charmingly simple, to eye-catching and intricate.

Plants

Some people love gardening and enjoy having exotic plants or finicky in their yard. Other would rather spend their time lounging in their yard rather than working in it. No matter which you prefer, there are plenty of plant options that can be used to create the yard of your dreams. Native plants are especially useful for homeowners who want to be able to plant grasses and flowers and then forget them.

7 Benefits of Perennials

It’s spring, and that means gardeners are starting to dream about their gardens and flowerbeds. The whole growing season is ahead, and everyone has visions of lush, blooming flowers or gardens full of produce. There are many benefits of perennials and they are often a favorite for growers because they are low maintenance and return year after year.

benefits of perennials

Benefits of Perennials

Choosing the right plants for your space can be as fun as it is challenging. There are so many factors to consider, but the first decision to make is whether perennials are the right choice for you.

Primary types of plants

There are two primary types of garden and flowerbed plants: annuals and perennials (though gardening aficionados will be quick to point out there are some plants, called biennials, that are exceptions and last two years).

Annuals complete their entire life cycle in a single year. Perennials, on the other hand, live for several years. After flowering and dying back, the roots remain and produce a new crop the following year.

Annual plants have benefits of course, but can also cause problems, especially in large-scale agriculture operations, for example.

Less annual maintenance

One of the biggest advantages of perennial plants is that they don’t need to be replanted every year. Gardeners can save time and energy by not clearing flowerbeds of last years plants, sowing seeds, and composting and mulching an area every year. Plus, once perennials are established, they generally need less care as their root systems are able to give them the nutrients they need.

Soil Structure

Because perennials remain in the soil for multiple years, the root systems help improve the soil structure. As they grow and spread their roots, the soil is aerated and channels are created for water to travel through the soil. This helps both the perennial plants and other plants in the area get the oxygen and water they need.

Nutrients

Perennials have a deeper root system than annual plants and are able to reach nutrients that are further down in the soil. They bring those nutrients to the surface where other plants are able to access them. Nitrogen, for example, is a particularly useful element for plant growth that perennials help draw upwards.

Water

Just like nutrients, the root systems of perennials also draw up water from lower in the soil profile. Again, this moisture becomes available to other plants with shallower root systems. It also helps prevent the soil from drying out and becoming susceptible to erosion.

Cover

When perennials die back, many of them retain their foliage. This creates a soil cover, similar to a cover crop, that protects the moisture in the soil from evaporation by the sun. It also helps maintain a strong soil structure and prevents erosion by wind and rainfall.

Propagation

Perennials may last a long time, but sadly, they don’t last forever. Fortunately, many perennials are easy to propagate by dividing the plant’s root system. Sections of the root clump are carefully divided and then replanted to produce new plants.

Variety

With a little bit of planning, it is possible to stagger the blooming of your garden. Annuals tend to all bloom in the same period, but with perennials, you can get blooming flowers from early spring up to the first frost.

5 Tips for Getting Your Yard and Flowerbeds Ready for Spring

As the thermometer continues to creep upward, gardeners and homeowners are starting to think about getting ready for spring. Everyone is dreaming about being in their yard, gardens, and flowerbeds and enjoying the warmer weather.

ready for spring

Getting your yard ready for spring will help plants flourish for the rest of the season.

5 steps to get your yard ready for spring

These early spring months are the perfect time to do a little prep work. Taking care of a few simple chores now will make the rest of the growing seasons easier and more enjoyable. Here are five easy steps you can take now to get your yard ready for spring.

1. Tidy up

Throughout the fall and winter, all sorts of things can end up in your yard. Start with a fresh slate by tidying up your yard early in the spring. Branches, leaves, and other debris that have been left behind by storms should be cleaned up. It’s important to take care of these chores quickly before spring plants start popping up. The sooner your flower beds are cleaned, the less chance there is that you’ll step on a plant by mistake.

Trees and bushes can also be spruced up in the spring. Trim off any dead or broken branches and prune and shape your trees and bushes as needed.

2. Prep garden tools

Your garden tools have been sitting around all winter, but soon they are going to start earning their keep again. Make sure they are in shape and ready to go by cleaning them off with soap and water and use mineral spirits on the wood handles. Mineral spirits help prevent the wood from splintering.

3. Give your soil some love

To get your soil ready for the growing season ahead, turn over any soil that you’ll be planting in with a pitchfork and then rake it out. Clear out any weeds that have grown and add fresh compost or manure to the soil. Add any fertilizer to the soil a few weeks before planting to avoid burning the roots of your new plants.

4. Make a plan

Know your plant hardiness zone and select plants that are best for your location. Local nurseries are also a great place to get recommendations for your area. Other factors to keep in mind is soil drainage when plants will bloom and plant height.

5. Keep up the maintenance

A little upkeep throughout the season is the key to keeping your yard and flowers looking beautiful. Once flowers start blooming, deadheading will promote more flower growth (depending on the flower type). Annuals can be planted to supplement perennials and keep flower beds looking full.

Late spring is also a good time to mulch your garden. Mulching will keep weeds at bay and help the soil retain moisture for the hot summer days to come.

Make Your Dream Project Come True!

landscape dreams

Make your landscape dream come true by adding a beautiful flower garden.

You know when I realized I had finally reached adulthood? It was when I found myself getting excited about remodeling our house and fixing up our yard. Forget the daydreams I had as a child, I’d rather think about which flowers I’m going to plant in my cutting garden this year or try to figure out the best place to add a patio and fire pit.

These days, I can’t think of anything better than spending summer evenings sitting on a patio in a beautifully designed yard, sipping a glass of wine, and chatting with friends.

Especially after spending all winter cooped up inside, nothing sounds better than soaking up the sun, getting my hands dirty planting flowers, and having a space outside that I can be proud of.

Your yard is part of your home

Your yard is more than just the patch of grass that surrounds your house and a couple of trees. It’s an extension of your home and your living space. It’s where your children will have their best adventures and where you and your friends will spend relaxing evenings.

Your yard should be a place where you feel comfortable. A place where you can entertain and make memories with your family and friends.

backyard-patio

Making your landscape dream come true

At Great Goats Landscaping we like to see your landscape dreams turn into reality. Mike and the team pride themselves on designing spaces that you’ll love and that you’ll be able to enjoy all season.

Whether your style leans toward wild overflowing flower beds, or a manicured design that the Queen of England would envy, we will sit down with you, listen to what you want, and make it happen.

We can also design and install outdoor features like patios, gazebos, water features, wood burning stoves, and fireplaces. Whatever you need to make your outdoor space feel like an extension of your home, Great Goats Landscaping can make it into reality.

And if all that still sounds a little too serious for you, we’d be happy to add a tire swing.