Fall is the perfect time to schedule landscaping services to prepare your yard for the winter ahead. As the weather cools, plants absorb moisture and nutrients for their dormant months, making it an ideal time to prune or mulch. It is also a good time to plant or transplant perennials so they have time to establish themselves before the temperatures drop. Taking care of your yard now will have a huge impact on how it looks in the spring.

We’ve put together a list of our top fall landscaping tips to get you thinking about how your yard could benefit from a little love this fall.

Water! Water! Water!

Watering isn’t just for spring or summer. Plants need extra water in the fall to make sure they are healthy and able to withstand the freezing temperatures of winter. Hydrating plants fully before freezing helps prevent “winter burn” and helps make sure they will make it to spring healthy and thriving.

Wrap trees

Wrapping trees, especially young trees, with burlap will prevent sunburn and prevent rabbits and deer from eating branches. Wrap deciduous tree trunks with cardboard tree wrap or cover with corrugated trunk protectors to prevent damage.

Plant

Fall is one of the best times of year to plant and transplant perennial plants. Spring bulbs like tulips, daffodils, and crocuses should all be planted in the fall if they are going to make an early spring appearance. The best planting for other plants can be more flexible, but fall is still a great time of year to add landscaping trees and bushes.

Prune and tidy trees

Many trees and shrubs need a heavy pruning before winter starts. Some plants need help to prevent damage during harsh freezes. Other plants just need their size controlled for the next growing season.  Removal dead perennial branches. Keep in mind that there are some flowering plants like hydrangeas, lilacs, and viburnum that shouldn’t be pruned during this time of year. Spring blooms could be affected if branches are cut in the fall.

Fix troubled lawn spots

Fall is the ideal time to improve thin or bald lawn spots. Use a mixture of mulch, grass seed, and fertilizer and spread a thick layer in areas of your grass that seem to need some help. Water the area thoroughly and you should see a difference by the spring. You can also overseed, or plant directly into existing grass to improve the density and color of your lawn in the spring. It is often recommended that overseeding be done in conjunction with soil aeration.

Following these tips will keep your yard and lawn looking great and will set you up for a great spring. If fall is a busy time of year for you, Great Goats Landscaping can lend a hand. Our team has experience creating tailored-made plans for your property to achieve your landscaping goals.

The time and effort you put into your yard now will pay off in the spring so give us a call today!

Natural-stone has been used in landscaping and decorative construction for ages. From the Greeks and Romans to the English and French, countless cultures and traditions have combined stone and plants to create beautiful outdoor gardens and spaces.

Even today, natural stone accents can add to any garden regardless of space or budget. Even a small, simple area can use stone to enhance its beauty.

Here are some of our favorite tips when selecting and incorporating stone into your space.

1. Make stone the focal point

There are countless natural-stone options on the market that would make an eye-catching and unique focal point for your yard. Fountains, birdbaths, and sculptures can all be used as ornaments in your garden to striking effect. If real stone is out of your budget, replicas made with synthetic materials can be a nice alternative. Elevate the look by building a base or raised platform of natural-stone tiles.

2. Create a walking path

In garden settings, natural stone is the traditional choice for walking paths. Instead of concrete or gravel, consider slate or limestone tiles to add to the look of your walkway. Garden paths can be an eye-catching alternative to mulching between rows and plants.

3. Add stone to the patio

If you are looking to completely transform your yard or patio space, incorporating natural stone will have a huge impact. Consider looking online at courtyard designs and plans for inspiration. Then take the ideas you have gathered and incorporate them into your space. Elements that would benefit from natural stone include planters, walkways, raised platforms, decks and low walls.

4. Build a patio lounge

Building a patio lounge is another classic application of natural stones in the outdoors. In warmer climates, covered lanais often feature granite tiles because they tend to be cooler than other materials.  The same principle can be used in Minnesota during our warmer months.

Fire pits and summer go hand in hand. There is something about gathering around a fire in the evening with friends and family that is instinctively human. Fire pits draw people together and are an ideal place to relax, tell stories and get to know the people in your life a little bit better. If you’re thinking about adding a fire pit to your yard, here are a few design ideas to consider as you make a fire pit that is perfect for you.

Built-in or mobile

It’s typical to think of fire pits as a built-in feature of a yard, but mobile fire pits are equally common and have their own benefits. Movable fire pits are readily available at many garden supply and hardware stores. They come in a wide range of styles and designs and are easy to move around your property. However, movable fire pits tend to only last a season or two before they begin to deteriorate.

Build-in fire pits are much more durable, can last many, many years and require minimal maintenance. They also allow for more permanent design elements like a patio or seating areas.

Above- or in-ground

An in-ground fire pit can be a cost-effective option and is easy to build. However, above-ground pits are more common. A current trend is to create the feel of a sunken living room with the fire pit area. The surrounding wall offers built-in seating and helps block the wind while reflecting back heat, creating a cozy, warm outdoor room.

Placement

It’s easy for an above-ground fire pit to become the focal point of your outdoor design. Be sure to place it in an area where it balances well with the other design elements in your yard. A gas fire pit can be installed almost anywhere, but if you are burning wood, your fire pit will need to be 10 – 25 feet away from any structures depending on local ordinances. Als,o consider wind patterns and any smoke issues that might arise.

Materials and Shape

Fire pits can be built out of many different materials. The most popular are brick, natural stone, and concrete blocks. Round or square fire pits are the most common, but of course, the design options are limitless. Fire pit liners are generally recommended and are often required by local municipalities. Steel liners add to the safety of the fire pit and help reflect heat upward and outward.

Even in housing, first impressions are important. Curb appeal and landscaping is important if you are thinking about selling, or just want to present your home in its best light.

Using Landscaping to add value

It can be hard to know which elements will give you the most bang for your buck when you are considering updating your landscaping and increasing the value of your home.

Whether you’re thinking about putting your house on the market or not, everyone wants their house to make a good first impression, and landscaping is something you can work on now to add value to your home.

Here are a few tips to make your property shine.

Create a beautiful barrier

While you can’t change the size of your property or how close you are to the neighbors, you can add a little privacy by creating or installing a barrier. While adding a fence is always an option, a living, green barrier can be more subtle and visually appealing.

Shrubs that are evergreen and grow quickly can create beautiful hedges. If you’d like a larger border, evergreen trees like pine, cedar or fir, will add the same level of privacy but grow much larger.

Add color

Flowers and established landscaping can do wonders for creating a positive first impression. Many buyers or visitors will instantly notice a blooming garden.

To quickly add color, consider annual planters on your porch or deck. Flowering trees, shrubs or perennial plants will add more long-term color.

Create balance throughout the season

One landscaping trick is to consider when plants will bloom throughout the season and making sure you have continuous color all summer long. If you only plant spring blooms, like daffodils and tulips, your yard will be looking pretty bland by July. So plant a variety of plants in the same area – daffodils and tulips for the spring, coneflowers for the summer and mums for the fall. By adding a variety of plants you should be able to have color all summer.

Try adding edging

What looks better than a lush and colorful yard? A colorful yard with carefully designed edging! Edging is a crip border of gravel, stone or brick that is added to a property. It shows people that you are meticulous about the care of your home, inside and out. Plus edging gives you a tidy design without any added weeds.

June is here, and with it, the warmer weather has finally arrived! It’s time to spend your free hours outside, soaking up the sun and fresh air. While you’re out there, give your yard a little love with our top do’s and don’ts of yard care.

Do: Plant hot weather vegetables

Use the hot summer weather to your advantage and grow some plants that will thrive in the heat and sunshine.

• Tomatoes
• Peppers
• Melons
• Squash

Don’t: Plant cool-season vegetables

There is a short window after the snow melts that cool-season vegetables will thrive before the heat gets to be too much for them. Usually, veggies like lettuce, carrots, peas, and radishes all do better in the early spring. As the weather begins to warm, they will quickly bolt, meaning that they will start using their energy to bloom and produce seeds, making their leaves and edible parts bitter.

Do: Water wisely and deeply

The early morning or late afternoon, when you’ll lose the least amount to evaporation, is the best time to water. Aim for the base of the plant to further reduce evaporation, and water your plants deeply and slowly.

Don’t: Waste water

While using a sprinkler timer is a great way to make sure your lawn and garden get watered on a regular basis, there are times that your plants simply won’t need the water. Let your plants tell you when they need a drink and only water then they are newly planted or have wilting or dropping leaves.

Don’t: Let your garden or yard go

In the summer, things in your garden can change quickly. Pests, drought, wet soil or disease can all have a terrible effect on your plants in a matter of days. Check on your garden regularly, especially after a heavy rain or a long dry spell. Prune any plants that seem to be taking over and when in doubt, rip it out.