Yard Care Vacation Checklist

Summer is here! As you’re packing suitcases and dreaming of sunny days at the lake, don’t forget to plan ahead for your landscaping needs while you’re gone. Follow this handy yard care vacation checklist to ensure that you come home to a healthy, tidy outdoor space.

Looking to lighten your load? Great Goats provides a full array of yard care services—with a level of expertise and reliability that you can’t get from your neighbor down the block! Give us a call today to schedule services during your upcoming vacations.

vacation-to-do-yard-checklist

✔ Plan for lawn irrigation

Check the weather forecast for the days you’ll be gone, and adjust your sprinklers based on expected rainfall. If you have a timed system, just set it and forget it. If someone will be watering the lawn by hand, consider drawing out a map of the spaces you’d like watered, and how often.

(Don’t have an automated irrigation system? Call us today to learn about installing one, and save yourself hours of hassle and gallons of water each month.)

✔ Mow and edge your lawn

Sure it’s a pain now, but the last thing you want to do when you return from vacation is tussle with overgrown grass!

✔ Weed and harvest

Give your plants a thorough weeding, and bring in any fruits and vegetables that will ripen while you’re away. Also consider adding fresh mulch to flower beds.

✔ Move container plants

Container plants tend to dry out quickly. You may want to move them to shadier areas before hitting the road.

✔ Clean gas grill

Turn off the gas supply and use a wire brush to clean your grill. Double-check that your propane is stored safely. While you’re at it, discard any used charcoal or logs from fire pits.

✔ Clean off patios and decks

Clear the decks with a leaf-blower or broom.

✔ Bring in cushions and rugs

Store outdoor fabrics inside while you’re gone, and move rust-prone furniture under overhangs.

✔ Cover water features

Batten down the hatches on pools and hot tubs. (You may want to add an extra dose of chlorine as well.) Consider draining and turning off the power to running fountains and other water features.

Give Great Goats a call today so you can kick back and relax, knowing your outdoor space will be well cared-for in your absence. And here’s to a fantastic summer, wherever the season takes you!

Pro Tips for a Great Summer Lawn

Want a major league lawn this summer? Back when our Minnesota Twins moved to their state-of-the-art outdoor stadium, Target Field, a local TV station profiled the hardworking grounds crew who keep the field in top condition. While you may not have a whole outfield to care for, many of the groundskeepers’ best practices are also good lessons for homeowners. Here are our pro tips for a great-looking lawn.

Healthy lawn

Your lawn will be a home run if you take care of it like the pros.

1. Get a Fresh Start

The Twins had the advantage of starting with a blank slate at the new park, allowing the grounds crew to build a great field from the soil up. If you’ve moved into a new home or are simply trying to rejuvenate a lawn after years of haphazard care, you may find that a complete reseeding is the best way to get the yard you dream of. At Great Goats, we can help by doing a soil analysis, removing dead plants, and selecting a grass and fertilizer that will flourish in your particular space.

2. Drainage is Key

Minnesota lawns take a beating from ice, snow, and rain. Every year, we’re treated to a few pictures of the Twins’ grounds crew shoveling snow off the field in an attempt to get it ready for play that evening. Target Field is actually built on a unique combination of sand and silt that absorbs water quickly and reduces flooding of the grass. Homeowners, too, need to consider drainage in any landscape project—no one wants to find out in the winter that their new patio is pushing water into the basement. Worried about doing it yourself? Consider having a professional flatten or regrade your yard to ensure that water is funneled away from your house.

3. It Pays to Maintain

Even when the Twins are on the road, the grounds crew is at the stadium conditioning the field. Lawn care might not be your full-time job, but you can take a page out of their playbook and make regular maintenance a priority. A little work now will save you from major work later. Staying on top of a couple of daily tasks (removing objects from the grass so they don’t create dead spots; watering on a smart sprinkler system) and a few weekly chores (weeding, raking, mowing) will keep your lawn looking great all summer.

4. Put on the Finishing Touches

Major league groundskeepers make those arrow-straight stripes through the outfield by dragging a giant roller behind their mower, and the Twins’ crew says drawing the chalk foul lines is a nerve-wracking task. The lesson for homeowners is that it pays to sweat the small stuff. Consider edging your lawn with a decorative border of flowers or wood chips to create a nice visual transition between grass and concrete. Or

Tips for Designing the Perfect Deck

Clear the decks! These classic landscape features not only give you extra entertaining and recreational space, they also add value to your home and create a focal point for your backyard. If you’ve been dreaming about adding a deck to your outdoor space, here are some tips for designing the perfect deck:

A ground-level deck with integrated plantings.

A ground-level deck with integrated plantings.

Materials Matter

There’s no shortage of choices when it comes to building materials. But with any of these options, correct installation is key. While building a deck can be a DIY project, you’ll extend the life and safety of your material with a professional installation.

  • Redwood/Cedar: Popular for their classic beauty and natural resistance to rot and insects. Expect any natural wood to fade to gray over its 20-year lifetime.
  • Tropical Hardwood: Tough as nails and extremely long-lasting—up to 25 years with regular care. These are significantly more expensive to install than other materials.
  • Composite: Brands like Trex provide the feel of wood without the fading and splinters. They’re low-maintenance and eco-friendly but tend to move more in response to temperature changes.
  • Plastic: Plastic may sound cheap, but many homeowners are often surprised by how well PVC and polystyrene material mimics the look of real wood. Lightweight and stiff, they’re less expensive and withstand moisture.

 

The Lowdown on Upkeep

When choosing a material, we advise our clients to be realistic about how much time and energy they want to invest in their deck over the years. With harsh Minnesota winters, your deck will take a beating. Both wood and engineered surfaces expand and contract with moisture, which can lead to warping. Composite decks need to be scrubbed annually to remove mildew, while natural woods need to be restained and sealed every 2-3 years.

Simple deck designed to match stone patio.

Simple deck designed to match stone patio.

Deck Design Ideas

Consider how your deck will be used. Are you looking for a simple surface for grilling and playing with the kids, or a more elaborate outdoor entertaining space? They sky is the limit; we’ve even seen decks that incorporate a wall of the house as an outdoor movie screen!

Raised deck with staircase to complement home.

Raised deck with staircase to complement home.

Make sure to consider…

  • Seating: Add seating along the edge of your deck or a bar-height railing for flexible entertaining space.
  • Food prep: Who doesn’t dream of an outdoor kitchen? Now is the time to consider where you’ll locate the grill and where you might want electrical outlets. And what about a built-in beverage cooler?
  • Elevation: A deck with multiple levels helps to create miniature “rooms” for different functions—dining, lounging, and recreation.
  • Surroundings: The color and feel of the deck should complement the home and the other backyard features, such as the garden and patio.
  • Greenery: Don’t cut down that tree—build your deck around it! Or use built-in planter boxes to create continuity with the rest of your garden.

Ready to start building? Call Great Goats today to schedule your design consultation.

New Minnesota Plant Varieties for 2016

Tired of seeing the same old annuals in your yard each spring? New flowers, shrubs, and edibles are being developed constantly, as horticulturalists fine-tune existing varieties to yield more vibrant colors, a longer blooming season, and better disease resistance. Here are four of our favorite new plants for Minnesota yards and gardens.

Summer Cascade Wisteria

So you dream of summers on the Mediterranean, but you don’t want to give up our winter wonderland? This new wisteria from the University of Minnesota has delicate blossoms but is bred to withstand northern climates.

Photo: UMN Hardy

Photo: UMN Hardy

Strawberry Delizz

There are plenty of new edibles on the market each year, but this sweet strawberry caught our eye for earning an All-American Selection 2016 Award. You’ll have delicious little berries all season long, but our favorite part is that the Delizz is designed to fit in containers if you’re short on space.

Photo: AAS

Photo: AAS

Electric Lights Red Azalea

Here’s another beauty from the researchers at the U of M: a hearty, vibrant red azaleathe likes of which you might expect to see in Georgia. Along with its sister variety, Electric Lights Double Pink, this eye-catcher will add a pop of color to a primarily green backyard palette.

Photo: UMN Hardy

Photo: UMN Hardy

Six-in-One Apple Tree

“Triple apples” are so last decade. By grafting in more varieties, the five-in-one and six-in-one trees support a longer harvest season and yield fruit to please all tastes. This particular newcomer includes the always popular Honeycrisp and Gravenstein varieties. Plus, it’s small enough to be integrated into your existing garden design.

Photo: Monrovia

Photo: Monrovia

Did any of those new plants pique your interest? Give us a call to talk about adding them to your yard!

Minnesota Landscaping Companies: How to Choose the Right One

Everyone’s landscaping needs are different, but there are certain qualities all homeowners should look for when selecting a company to work with. Here are a few tips for choosing a reliable, trustworthy landscaper in the Twin Cities area.

Choose the right landscaping company to create your backyard sanctuary!

Choose the right landscaping company to create your backyard sanctuary!

Customer-focused service

As a family-owned business, our name is on the line. That’s why our owner and designer, Mike Olson, personally meets with each client to gather information about the proposed project. Look for a landscaper who really listens to your needs and makes you part of a collaborative process. Also, make sure the company you choose has a top-notch Better Business Bureau rating and good customer reviews online. If possible, talk with previous clients and ask if they would use the company again. The highest praise is a return customer!

Creative, custom designs

Your home is a unique reflection of you and how your family enjoys the outdoors. There’s no cookie-cutter solution for your yard. Check out each landscaping company’s portfolio of work. If you notice that many of their patio designs tend to look the same, or that they have certain “fallback” plants that anchor every garden installation, proceed with caution. Make sure you’re selecting a company that will work with you to turn your unique vision into reality.

Local expertise

Plenty of companies can offer simple services like lawn-trimming and leaf-raking. But when you’re making your yard into your dream outdoor space, you want landscapers who have seen it all—who know the local microclimates, soil conditions, and seasonal weather patterns like the back of their hand. Look for a company that has been in business in the Twin Cities area for many years (Great Goats has been here over a decade!); they will have a deep well of knowledge to draw from when tackling any new project.

Transparent pricing & scheduling

That beautiful backyard deck won’t look so beautiful if it takes twice as long and costs twice as much as promised. Any company worth its salt will give you a clear estimate for pricing and timeframe—up front and in writing. Ask them to explain how the total price could change based on later design alterations and how they schedule their clients to avoid delays. At Great Goats, we include all of that information in your personal consultation with Mike.

Put us to the test! Give us a call today to learn about our services.

Spring Lawn Care – 5 Tips for a Beautiful Summer Lawn

Temperatures are finally on the rise, and that means it’s time to revitalize your lawn after its winter hibernation. One of the most common questions we receive is, “What should I do now to have a great lawn in the summer?” All it takes is some basic maintenance and preventative care. Below are five of our top spring lawn tips to get your lawn looking its best.

Spring Lawn Tips

A little yard maintenance now can help your lawn look good all summer.

Spring Lawn Tips

  1. Clean up winter debris

    It’s a spring tradition: the last snow melts and hidden treasures appear in your yard. Whether it’s trash, toys, or organic debris that accumulated during winter storms, spend a few hours clearing the decks and raking up leaves and twigs. Tip: this is an easy chore for kids to help with!

  1. Do basic weed prevention

    The best way to be weed-free in the summer is to be proactive in the spring. There are many organic, safe products on the market that will prevent weeds from taking root. Of course, if you’d rather not buy an additional product for your lawn, hand-weeding is also an option. We often find that the combination of a non-toxic product and some old-fashioned elbow grease is the most effective combination.

  1. Prune plants

    The ideal time to prune plants varies between plant families. However, there are many perennials that are best pruned in the spring before new growth has started.

  1. Perform soil tests

    Here’s a pro tip that’s easy for any homeowner to do. Acidity levels in soil can range from 4 to 10 pH. Each plant has a prefered pH level. To ensure the grass in your yard will thrive, it’s helpful to determine your soil’s pH level. Then steps can be taken to increase or decrease the acidity as needed.

  1. Give your tools a tune-up

    Get your hardware in shape before summer hits.

    – Lawn mower/leaf blower: Make sure the oil is fresh and the fuel tank is full. Replace the air filter and the spark plugs, and sharpen mower blades.

    – Gardening tools: Treat rusted tools with vinegar and rub wooden handles with oil. Sharpen pruning shears.

    – Sprinkler system/hoses: Check the system for wear and tear, debris on the sprinkler heads, and correct water pressure. Verify that the valves are working properly.

Here’s to a green, healthy lawn this spring. As always, don’t hesitate to give us a call for help with your spring yardwork needs!

Fire Pit Design Ideas: Gather Around the Fire in Style This Summer!

fire-pit-flagstone-patio-orono-mn

Ahhh, summer in Minnesota. Lemonade, lake days, and late nights spent outside with friends and family. It’s no wonder fire pits are one of the most-requested patio features in the landscape design business. A fire pit provides the perfect place to gather together, toast marshmallows, trade stories, and make memories. Even the Minnesota Twins’ stadium boasts a rooftop fire pit!

Here are some design ideas to consider if you’re thinking about adding one of these popular features to your outdoor space:

Location, Location, Location

Whatever size space you’re working with, a fire pit can provide a great focal point for entertaining. It’s important to consider how you want a fire pit to work into the flow of your patio. Will this be the primary gathering place for guests? Are you looking for quick access to the kitchen, or do you want the fire pit to be a “destination point” farther away on the property?

swimming-pool-landscaping-firepit-edina-mn

At Great Goats, we work with you to assess your outdoor space, and we take into consideration how you entertain.

Adding Fuel to the Fire

One of the biggest questions we get is gas vs. wood-burning. There are pros and cons to both. Wood gives you that woodsy ambiance and allows for bigger fires (just add another log!). There are no hook-ups to worry about, often making installation less expensive. Gas, on the other hand, offers quicker start-up and clean-up; it’s literally as simple as flipping a switch. And in some areas, local laws restrict outdoor wood smoke. We have expertise in both types of installation and can advise you on the best option for your home.

brick-patio

What’s Your Style?

Are you going for modern minimalist? Ornate Tuscan? These days, fire pits go well beyond the simple circle. Most of our clients opt for the classic beauty of traditional stone, but fire pits can be built from a variety of materials, all with different pros and cons: for instance, concrete can be molded into intricate shapes but is very heavy; granite is expensive but long-lasting. With our expertise in patio design, we can steer you to a durable option that matches the style you’re envisioning.

outdoor-fireplace-paver-patio-edina-mn

Call us today to set up a consultation, and make this summer extra memorable!

5 Tips To Get Your Lawn Ready For Fall

Ready-for-fall

We Minnesotans fall into one of two camps: we either enter the fall season rejoicing that we’re one day closer to winter or we ignore the changing leaves and wear our flip flops until the first snowflake appears. No matter which type of person you are, there is a good chance you aren’t thinking about your lawn as much as you were a couple months ago, but the cooler weather of autumn makes it an ideal time to prepare for next spring.

Your grass might be growing more slowly, but that doesn’t mean it won’t benefit from a little extra care. During the autumn, grass absorbs energy, moisture, and nutrients to prepare for a long, dormant winter. Give your lawn a little love now, and you’ll be able to see the difference in the spring.

1. Keep mowing

It might be tempting to stop mowing your lawn, but keeping your grass short will allow more sunlight to reach the crown of the grass and will decrease the amount of leaf that will turn brown during the winter. Set your mower to its lowest setting for the last two cuttings of the year, always taking care to never cut more than one-third of the grass blade at a time.

2. Aerate your soil

Aerating your soil lets oxygen, water, and fertilizer reach your grass’s roots. Fall is a great time to aerate and most hardware stores have gas-powered lawn aerators for rent that will remove small plugs of dirt and drills holes into the dirt.

Edible landscaping

 

3. Rake the leaves

Raking leaves can be a big job, but it’s an important one to get taken care of as soon as possible. Putting it off will only make the leaves more likely to get wet and stuck together and much more difficult to rake. Another option is to use a lawnmower with a collection bag or a vacuum system to remove the leaves. No matter which option you choose, be sure to get your leaves picked up before they become a wet, suffocating mess.

4. Apply fertilizer

Fall is the best time of year to apply fertilizer. Grass leaves might be growing more slowly, but the roots and rhizomes (the horizontal plant stem that lies beneath the surface) are still active. Adding fertilizer in the fall gives grass roots the nutrients they need to grow deep now and start out healthy in the spring.

5. Fill bald spots

The easiest way to fill any bald spots in your lawn is to use an all-in-one lawn repair mixture sold at most garden shop and home centers. Typically these ready-made mixes contain grass seed, quick-starter lawn fertilizer, and organic mulch. Before spreading the seed, use a rake to loosen the soil. Then spread a thick layer of the mixture over the area, water thoroughly, and continue watering every other day for two weeks.

Edina Landscape Dream Come True for This Family

 

Edina Landscaping ProjectReady to take your landscaping to the next level? Call 612-483-GOAT to get started! We’ve been serving the Twin Cities for well over a decade. Here’s footage of one of our favorite projects… #landscaping #MN #TwinCities

Posted by Great Goats Landscaping on Friday, September 11, 2015

 

A few years ago, a family in Edina was looking to upgrade their landscape. They had just finished a home addition and wanted a beautiful front yard to complement the work they had done. We worked with the homeowners to create a design to give them exactly what they were looking for – beauty and privacy with a golf course quality lawn.

edina-frontTo give them the type of lawn the family wanted, the Great Goats team stripped out the old lawn and meticulously graded the exposed dirt. Then we installed lush Minnesota grown sod. A curved border separated the lawn from the landscaped areas and gentle berms were added to give the family a rolling contour instead of the typical flat front yard.

We also landscaped the front entry and the foundation of the home and added an L-shaped garden with pine and birch trees, a flowering tree and lots of blooming shrubs and perennials. The final effect was a colorful screen that gave a sense of privacy from the street traffic in front of the home.

Edina-poolside Two years later, the Great Goats team found themselves back at the same address. The family had recently build a new wooden deck off the second story, added a concrete deck around their swimming pool, and enclosed the back yard with a new fence. Once again the family’s main concern was privacy. The open fields that surrounded their backyard were slated for development and keeping a sense of peace and seclusion was a high priority.

We planted evergreen and birch trees along the fence to create a natural screen. We also carried over the contoured feel of the front yard by installing gentle berms and a curved border along the planting beds.  Flowering patio trees, blooming shrubs, perennials and ornamental grasses were planted to create natural and colorful points of interest around the yard.edina-landscape

Throughout the property, accent borders were added to enhance the naturalistic feel that the homeowners wanted.

Since first meeting the family, Great Goats has enjoyed maintaining and improving the landscaping of their property. We love taking a project from the very beginning and improving the site over multiple years to help homeowners create a yard that they truly love. We value our ongoing relationship with this family and have been thrilled to receive several referrals based on our work.

edina-landscaping

Tips for Late Summer Yard Care

Late Summer Yard Care

This is one of my favorite times of the year. With all the end of summer activities in full swing, I spend most of my time outside, trying to soak in as much sun before winter as possible.

Unfortunately, these end-of-summer days can do damage to your lawn. If your lawn is anything like mine, it’s starting to look worn. The heat, plus insects, foot traffic, and all those outdoor parties you’ve been throwing can easily leave lawns looking sparse and a little sad.

Fortunately, there are steps you can take to keep your lawn looking healthy and inviting throughout the summer and into fall.

Know your lawn type and geographic location

Before you dive into improving the health of your lawn, it’s important to know what type of grass you are dealing with. It also helps to do a little bit of research and learn about the plant zone that you live in. Knowing your plant zone will help you determine watering, soil and lighting requirements for your area.

Check your lawn and landscaping for signs of stress

Once you have a better idea of what your grass needs based on your plant zone, it’s time to take a look at the condition of your lawn. Watch lawn for areas that are lacking water or being attacked by seasonal bugs or disease. Shade trees, overhangs from your house and other buildings and the shade from you house can help plants that less hardy. Plants that tolerate heat and dry conditions should be planted in direct sun.

Get your soil tested

If you notice that your lawn isn’t growing like your neighbors, there could be many underlying factors. Testing your soil can tell you a lot about what your grass and other plants might be lacking. Improper nutrients, PH levels, and other natural balances could all affect how your yard performs. You soil might also need aerating periodically to bring air into your soil and stimulate growth.

Prevent next spring’s problems now

A lot of problems that lawns face in the spring can be addressed in the late summer. Late summer pests can take a toll on plants that might not show up until next summer. Be vigilant and address any insect problems promptly. There are many pest control options on the market, but chemical-free solutions will always be the safest for you, your family, and the environment.

Choose the right fertilizer for late summer applications

Lawns require different fertilizer based on the time of year or maybe you are trying to build tuft or address a particular problem in a certain area of your lawn. Whatever you are hoping to improve about your lawn, seek advice before buying and spreading fertilizer. Your local nursery should have a variety of fertilizers and will be able to help you select the right one for your needs.

Trim bushes and shrubs

It doesn’t matter if your landscape is neatly manicured or has a more rustic look. Flowers and shrubbery should be trimmed and kept tidy to keep your yard from looking overgrown and unkempt. Never trim more than a third from bushes and shrubs. Bushes and shrubs should be trimmed in late summer, rather than in late fall so that any new growth has time to harden before the harsh cold of winter.