Fine Gardening Services – We Take Care of All the Details

Summer in Minnesota is a vibrant season, marked by clear blue skies, a glorious sun that warms the air, and the emergence of colorful, blossoming plants that bring life to our yards. It’s a time to enjoy the tranquility of a lush, well-maintained garden, relax in the summer air, and appreciate the beauty of nature all around. Yet, the upkeep of a captivating landscape is no small feat—it requires countless hours of meticulous effort, painstaking detail, and a considerable amount of knowledge.

Maintaining a garden is a labor of love, and the cost of that love is time. Time spent mowing, weeding, watering, pruning, and more. For many, these gardening tasks can quickly turn into an exhausting chore rather than an enjoyable pastime, especially considering the short and precious summers we experience here in Minnesota.

At Great Goats Landscaping, we believe in the value of your time and the importance of enjoying these fleeting warm months to the fullest. That’s why we offer a comprehensive suite of fine gardening services that ensure your garden thrives, while you relax and savor the summer sun.

Our services span everything from maintaining non-lawn areas, pruning, deadheading, caring for shrub beds and perennials, planting, maintaining existing flower beds, bringing in new flowers from the garden centers, to caring for hanging flower baskets. Each service is performed with great attention to detail and expertise to ensure your garden remains stunning throughout the season. Let’s delve into a few of our services to better illustrate how Great Goats Landscaping can transform your garden experience.

gardening

1. Care for Shrub Beds and Perennials: These are the backbone of any garden. Our skilled team members are adept at creating the perfect conditions for your shrub beds and perennials to flourish. We handle the tasks of mulching, weeding, and fertilizing to ensure your plants get the nutrients they need. Additionally, we understand the specific care requirements of various plant species and use that knowledge to keep your shrub beds and perennials thriving all summer long.

garden pruning

2. Deadheading and Pruning: Pruning and deadheading are crucial for maintaining the health and aesthetic appeal of your garden. Our team carefully prunes your plants, removing dead or dying branches to promote growth and reduce the risk of disease. Similarly, we perform regular deadheading—removing spent blooms—to encourage plants to produce more flowers and extend their blooming period.

flower basket

3. Hanging Flower Baskets Care: Hanging flower baskets add a wonderful dimension to any garden, but they require a unique set of maintenance procedures. We ensure your hanging baskets retain their charm and health by providing them with the right balance of water, sunlight, and nutrients. Additionally, we also manage any necessary replanting or replacement to keep the vibrancy alive throughout the season.

Great Goats Landscaping offers all these services to ensure that you can enjoy the full potential of Minnesota’s summer in a lush and beautiful garden. You deserve to spend your time appreciating the beauty of your yard rather than exhausting yourself in maintaining it.

If the thought of a beautifully manicured garden without the hours of work sounds appealing, why not reach out? Let Great Goats Landscaping handle the finer details of garden care so that you can enjoy your summer the way you deserve to. Contact us today for a free estimate and take the first step towards a hassle-free, blooming summer!

Non-stop color! How to make your flower beds fantastic this summer

The long-awaited Minnesota summer is here, and it’s time to transform your garden into a symphony of color and vibrancy. A well-curated flower bed can not only elevate the aesthetics of your landscape but also be a delightful sanctuary for birds, butterflies, and other beneficial insects. Great Goats Landscaping, with our extensive experience and passion for creating beautiful outdoor spaces, can help make your flower beds a masterpiece of nature’s palette.

Understanding the different types of flower beds is the first step in creating your stunning summer garden. There are island beds, accessible from all sides and often planted with taller plants in the center. Border flower beds, typically against a wall or fence, have taller plants in the back and shorter ones in front. Raised beds are perfect for yards with poor soil, as they allow you to control the soil type and quality. Lastly, cottage gardens are charming, informal flower beds with a mix of flowers, herbs, and vegetables. Each of these beds can be customized to fit the aesthetic of your home and your personal preferences.

In Minnesota, where the climate ranges from hot summers to cold winters, choosing the right flowers is key. Coneflowers, black-eyed Susans, and daylilies are all perennials that thrive in our region and provide an array of colors. Annuals like marigolds, zinnias, and cosmos can also add pops of color.

At Great Goats Landscaping, we specialize in creating year-round color by strategically selecting plants that bloom at different times of the year. Early spring bulbs like tulips and daffodils kick off the season with a burst of color, followed by summer-blooming perennials and fall foliage plants. This ensures that as one plant’s blooming cycle ends, another is just beginning, providing non-stop color and interest in your garden.

Keeping your flower beds healthy and vibrant does require some maintenance, but it’s well worth the effort. Regular watering, particularly in the morning or late evening when the sun is less intense, is crucial during the hotter months. Deadheading, or removing spent flowers, encourages plants to produce more blooms and keeps your flower beds looking tidy. Mulching helps to conserve water, prevent weeds, and enrich the soil.

maintenance

We understand that planning and maintaining a flower bed can be time-consuming. That’s why Great Goats Landscaping is here to assist you every step of the way. Our experienced team can help you design a flower bed that maximizes color throughout the year, and our maintenance services ensure your garden remains a showstopper.

Getting your flower beds planted early is key to enjoying color all summer long. With Great Goats Landscaping at your side, you can sit back, relax, and watch as your garden transforms into an enchanting landscape, one bloom at a time.

There’s never been a better time to make your garden the envy of the neighborhood. Contact Great Goats Landscaping today for a free estimate, and let’s bring your vision to life. Your fantastic summer flower beds are just a phone call away. Non-stop color awaits!

Ready for a Vegetable Garden? We can help!

Are you dreaming of starting your own vegetable garden this year? Great Goats Landscaping is here to help you transform your outdoor space into a thriving garden oasis, filled with fresh, homegrown produce. As experts in landscaping and gardening in Minnesota, we know the ins and outs of creating the perfect vegetable garden for our local climate. Let’s dive into the various types of vegetable gardens, the most popular plants in Minnesota, and how our services can help you save money by growing your own fruits and vegetables.

Types of Vegetable Gardens

Whether you have a small backyard or a sprawling estate, there’s a vegetable garden suited for your space. From traditional in-ground gardens to raised beds, container gardens, and vertical gardens, the possibilities are endless. Here in Minnesota, the most popular plants include tomatoes, peppers, cucumbers, green beans, carrots, and lettuce. With our expertise, we can help you select the best garden layout and plants for your unique needs and desires.

Creating Raised Beds with Blended Garden Soil

Raised beds are an excellent option for many gardeners, as they offer improved drainage, better soil quality, and easier access for planting and maintenance. At Great Goats Landscaping, we construct durable and attractive raised beds using high-quality materials. Our team fills the beds with a blended garden soil, combining topsoil, compost, and other organic matter to create the ideal growing environment for your vegetables.

Cultivating Soil for a Bountiful Harvest

Proper soil preparation is key to a successful vegetable garden. We focus on cultivating the soil by adding organic matter, improving aeration, and ensuring proper pH balance. Our team tests the soil for nutrient deficiencies and works with you to create a customized plan for ongoing soil maintenance.

The Benefits of Growing Your Own Food

Growing your own fruits and vegetables is not only a rewarding hobby but also a smart financial decision. By producing your own food, you can save money on groceries while enjoying fresher, more nutritious, and better-tasting produce. Plus, gardening is a great way to stay active and connected with nature.

Keeping Pests Out with Wire Fencing

To protect your vegetable garden from pesky critters like rabbits, deer, and raccoons, we offer a variety of wire fencing options. Our fencing solutions are designed to keep pests out without sacrificing the beauty and accessibility of your garden.

Don’t Miss Out on the Spring Planting Season

Spring is the perfect time to start your vegetable garden, and Great Goats Landscaping is here to help. We go above and beyond to ensure your garden thrives. We can help you with a wide range of services including: planting seasonal fruits and vegetables, automated irrigation systems, garden hose arrangement, in-ground irrigation, drip-lines, micro-irrigation, and hanging baskets. Our knowledgeable team will work with you to design and install the perfect garden for your space, ensuring you enjoy fresh, delicious produce all season long.

Ready to transform your outdoor space? Contact Great Goats Landscaping today for a free estimate and let us help you create the vegetable garden of your dreams.

Rascally Rabbits Wrecked My Shrubs! 🐰👎

It’s been a cold, harsh winter! Even though you took great care to keep your yard looking beautiful year round, as the snow melts and spring emerges, you find that your once pristine shrubs and trees have been devastated by wild rabbits and deer. Your heart sinks as you witness the destruction caused by these seemingly cute and harmless creatures. If only you had taken the necessary precautions to protect your plants! Fortunately, Great Goats Landscaping is here to help you remedy the damage and safeguard your yard from future wildlife devastation.

The Problem: Rabbit and Deer Damage During Winter

During harsh winters, food sources for rabbits and deer become scarce. This forces them to resort to munching on the bark, stems, and branches of your shrubs and trees. This damage can lead to the plants’ decline or even death.

Shrub damage is most obvious in the spring

Remedying Damaged Plants

Great Goats Landscaping employs a team of experts that can help you assess the damage and develop a plan to restore the health of your plants. The first step is to prune the damaged branches to encourage new growth. If a plant is too far gone, we may recommend replacing it with a more resistant species. Additionally, we can apply fertilizers and other treatments to support the recovery of your remaining plants.

Preventing Future Damage

To ensure that your yard remains beautiful for years to come, it’s crucial to take preventive measures against unwanted wildlife damage. At Great Goats Landscaping, we offer a range of solutions to deter rabbits, deer, and other wildlife from invading your property.

  1. Fencing: A well-designed fence can effectively keep wildlife out of your yard. We can install deer-resistant fencing that’s both functional and aesthetically pleasing.
  2. Repellents: Our team can apply safe and environmentally friendly repellents to your shrubs and trees. These products discourage wildlife from feasting on your plants without causing harm to the animals or the environment.
  3. Protective Tree Guards: Installing tree guards around the trunks of your trees can prevent rabbits and deer from damaging the bark. Our team can recommend and install the appropriate guards for your specific needs.
  4. Plant Selection: Choosing deer-resistant and rabbit-resistant plants can significantly reduce the risk of damage. Our experts can help you select beautiful plants that are less attractive to wildlife.

No rabbit gettin’ in there!

Why Act Now?

Taking action before summer arrives is crucial. Not only does it give your plants the best chance of recovery, but it also helps you avoid further damage during the next winter season. Moreover, early intervention ensures that your yard remains beautiful and thriving throughout the year.

Don’t let those rascally rabbits and deer wreak havoc on your yard! Contact Great Goats Landscaping today for a free estimate and let our team of experts help you restore your damaged shrubs and trees, as well as prevent future wildlife invasions. Give us a call or visit our website to schedule your consultation. Your yard deserves the best care possible, and we’re here to provide it.

Spring Cleanup Time! Your Yard Needs TLC

Spring is finally here, and with it comes the perfect opportunity to refresh and revitalize your yard. Great Goats Landscaping has spring cleanup dialed in! We offer a range of services designed to get your garden, flowerbeds and lawn looking their absolute best. From flowerbed cleanup to mulching to lawn renovation, our team of professionals is ready to help you in create the outdoor oasis you deserve.

spring

Flower Bed Cleanup

After the long winter months, your flower beds can be left looking disheveled and unkempt. Our flower bed cleanup service includes clearing away dead leaves, branches, and other debris, as well as pruning and trimming shrubs and bushes to promote new growth. By tidying up your garden beds early in the season, you give your plants the best possible start and help prevent the spread of disease.

Top Dressing and Mulching

Top dressing and mulching are essential steps in maintaining a healthy, vibrant garden. At Great Goats Landscaping, we provide top-quality materials to ensure your garden beds receive the nutrients they need to thrive. Top dressing involves adding a layer of nutrient-rich soil or compost to your garden beds, which helps improve soil structure, drainage, and fertility. Mulching, on the other hand, involves adding a protective layer of organic material, such as wood chips or shredded leaves, to help retain moisture, suppress weeds, and insulate plant roots from temperature fluctuations.

Lawn Renovation

A well-maintained lawn is the foundation of a beautiful yard, and our lawn renovation service is designed to bring even the most neglected lawns back to life. Long winter seasons with heavy snow can be especially harsh on lawns. We’ll assess the condition of your lawn and create a tailored plan that includes de-thatching, aeration, and over-seeding to restore your lawn’s health and appearance. Here’s how we do that:

De-Thatching

Thatch is a layer of dead grass, roots, and other organic material that can accumulate on your lawn, preventing water, air, and nutrients from reaching the soil. De-thatching removes this layer of debris, allowing your lawn to breathe and absorb the essential elements it needs to grow strong and healthy.

Aeration and Over-Seeding

Aeration is a crucial component of lawn care, as it allows air, water, and nutrients to penetrate the soil and reach the grass roots. Our team will create small holes in your lawn to facilitate this process, promoting a healthier, more robust root system. Over-seeding, the process of spreading grass seed over your existing lawn, is then used to fill in any bare or thin spots, resulting in a thicker, more vibrant lawn.

Spring Cleanup Makes A Difference!

Starting your spring cleanup early is essential for ensuring your garden and lawn have the best possible foundation for healthy growth throughout the season. By taking care of these tasks early on, you’ll help prevent potential issues down the line, such as disease, pests, and patchy growth. Plus, a well-maintained yard is not only more enjoyable to spend time in, but it can also boost your property’s curb appeal and overall value.

Don’t wait to get your yard in top shape for the warm months ahead. Call Great Goats Landscaping today for a free estimate and let our team take care of spring cleanup for you. With our help, you’ll be enjoying a lush, beautiful outdoor space in no time.

Fix All the Drainage Problems in Your Yard!

Nothing is more exciting than seeing a rain shower roll through during summer when your yard could use a good watering. But you know what they say, “when it rains it pours” and sometimes that means you get more water in your yard than you bargained for! Don’t let poor drainage cause trouble around your house. Call professionals like Great Goats Landscaping to help you fix all the drainage problems in your yard. 

Good drainage is important for the health and well-being of your yard. Without drainage, soil erosion can become a problem that will eventually damage your landscaping and even your house. Likewise, standing water is a breeding ground for mosquitoes and harmful bacteria. Not to mention it can cause an unpleasant smell and is an eyesore to look at. Don’t let the value of your home decrease by allowing these drainage issues to fester.

Options for Drainage Problems

Check out this past blog post about what causes poor drainage: https://greatgoatslandscaping.com/drainage-problems/. Then, look at some of the options below of how you can improve the drainage in your yard.

  • Aeration – puncturing small holes in the soil to alleviate soil compaction and allows the air, water, and nutrients to flow to the grassroots.
  • Rain Garden – an intentionally placed area in the ground that provides a place for water to gather and absorb back into the soil, while also acting as beautiful flower garden.
  • Grassy Swale – a gentle sloped area that collects water and slowly filters it back into the ground
  • Drainage system – a system designed to carry off excess water, of which there are many types. Some of the most common types include French drains, channel drains, dry wells, and sump pumps
Lush backyard with a slope and rock garden. No drainage issues.

For serious drainage issues, it is best to contact professionals who can understand the problem and find the best solution for your specific yard. Contact Great Goats landscaping today with any drainage questions you have and let them help you develop an effective plan to bring beauty and functionality to your yard. 

Protect your lawn, landscaping, and house by improving the drainage in your landscaping. Get ahead of the game by fixing your drainage issues now before winter, and more importantly, spring when the snow melts and rivers of water run everywhere. 

Enjoy Fresh Produce with a Fall Garden

View from above of fall garden vegetables spread out on a flat surface.

Nothing tastes better than fresh fruits and vegetables grown in your own garden! Just because summer is coming to a close, doesn’t mean the taste of fresh produce has to!

Whether you were too busy to plant and take care of a garden this summer or love fresh produce so much that you want to continue to enjoy it through the fall, now is the time to plant your own fall garden!

Don’t wait to start planting. While many vegetables are hardy enough to withstand cooler temperatures, they still need some hot days to help them mature before the first frost, which makes August and early September the perfect time to get your garden started. 

Water coming out of a watering can on a large green plant.

What to Plant in Your Fall Garden

There are a countless number of delicious veggies to choose from to plant in your garden: root vegetables, leafy greens, legumes, herbs, and more. Choose a couple of your favorites or plant a variety to find out what grows the best. Here is a list of some options you can try:

  • Beets
  • Carrots
  • Broccoli
  • Kohlrabi 
  • Cauliflower
  • Lettuce
  • Peas
  • Radishes
  • Spinach 
  • Turnips 
  • Brussel Sprouts
  • Beans
  • Oregano
  • Mint 
  • Sage
  • Thyme
  • Rosemary
Close up image of light pinkish-orange flowers.

Get Creative with a Container Garden

 Don’t have the space to create a garden in your backyard or don’t want to go to all the work of tilling a plot? No problem! Try creating a container garden instead. Planting flowers and vegetables in large pots or containers makes managing your garden easy, plus it adds some beauty to your yard!

Allow your creativity to flow by creating beautiful pots that are both functional and gorgeous. Mix and match grass, colorful foliage, gourds, and flowers in addition to veggies in a pot to create a colorful and fun garden.  Here are some fun plant ideas to make your container garden pop:

  • Chrysanthemums
  • Marigolds
  • Pansies
  • Helenium
  • Asters
  • Lamb’s Ear
  • Ornamental Cabbage
  • Switch Grass
  • Swiss Chard
  • Little Bluestem
Array of gourds and pumpkins.

With an endless amount of flowers and vegetables, fall gardens can be both beautiful and bountiful. Enjoy all that fall has to offer by planting your own garden. And while you are at it, do yourself a favor and plant some spring flower bulbs to enjoy down the road.

Want some extra help designing or getting your garden started, call Great Goats Landscaping today!

And check out this past blog post for an August lawn and garden checklist. https://greatgoatslandscaping.com/august-lawn-and-garden-checklist/

Transform Your Backyard Into a Poolside Paradise

What better way to cool off in the summertime than by the pool? Backyard pools add value to your home and are a great way to spend those hot summer days with family and friends. Create a poolside paradise to relax and enjoy all summer long. 

Backyard Pools are Fun for All

Whether you prefer to lounge in the sun alongside the pool, float with a good book, or splash around in the water, a pool is a great addition to your home for all to enjoy. And with the right landscaping, an in-ground pool can become a stunning and invaluable feature of your backyard. 

Great Goats Landscaping can help you fulfill your pool dreams. Create a backyard oasis with customized landscaping to fit your own unique style and enjoy paradise from the comfort of your own home.

Building a Poolside Paradise

In their work with past clients, Great Goats provided such excellent work on a small project that they were contracted to design and oversee an additional  backyard renovation for those same homeowners whom they had developed a trusting and comfortable relationship with. The large project, which was made possible through the collaboration of the homeowners, Great Goats, and several other contractors and subcontractors, consisted of an in-ground swimming pool, patio, deck, and screened porch. The result of which is a stunning backyard that is tons of fun! 

Call Great Goats to help you create your own poolside paradise!

Options to Consider if You are Adding a Pool to Your Backyard 

  • Types of Pools:
    • Vinyl Liner Pools
    • Fiberglass Pools
    • Concrete/Gunite Pools
  • Pool Covers:
    • Mesh Covers
    • Solid Covers
    • Hybrid Covers
    • Automatic Covers
    • Winter Covers
  • Water Treatment Systems:
    • Chlorine
    • Salt Water
    • Mineral

A lot goes into installing a pool. To ensure it goes well and looks amazing, use a trusted landscaping company like Great Goats to bring beauty and relaxation to your backyard. 

Don’t wait to install your pool. Get started this fall so that your poolside paradise is ready for you to lounge around next summer.  

Don’t wait for Fall! Add your fire pit now.

fire-pit-paver-patio-shorewood-mn
Adding a fire pit to your yard gives you a great place to gather with friends and family.

What are some of your favorite summer memories from your childhood? Family road trips? Long warm days with no textbooks in sight? Lazy afternoons out at the lake?

It seems like no matter what your favorite part of summer is, everyone’s memories of summer include evenings spent roasting hot dogs and s’mores over the campfire. Sure, they can be a great way to end a day of camping, but they’re even more fun if the fire pit is in your backyard.

Fire pits and evening bonfires are a great excuse for family and friends to spend an evening together.

Today, backyard fire pits are a little fancier than a hole in the ground surrounded by a circle of rocks. Fire pits can easily be incorporated into your landscape design and be a beautiful feature of your yard.

Know your fire pit options

If you’re thinking about adding a fire pit to your yard, there are a couple options for you to consider:

  1. Free-standing fire pits Free-standing fire pits are easy to install and typically are placed on a solid area, like a brick patio. They are not anchored to anything and are a snap to move or put away if you don’t want the fire pit in your yard all the time.
  2. Built-in fire pits Built-in fire pits are typically made of brick or stone. They are much more secure and durable than free-standing fire pits. With built-in fire pits, you have a lot of design options to showcase your personality and complement the landscape design of the rest of your yard.

With either option, it’s easy to add complementary seating to finish your fire pit area and make sure you’re ready for a summer filled with evenings around a bonfire. All you’ll need to do is pull out the marshmallows and invite the neighbors over.

Make your backyard fire pit inspiration a reality! Designed for your unique lifestyle. A beautiful fire pit, also doubling as a live fire grill is the perfect addition!

Fresh interior paint boosts home values

Whether or not you plan to list your home on the market this spring, one of the easiest and most cost-effective ways to increase your home’s value and make the living space nicer is also one of the simplest: paint.

It’s the least expensive investment for the biggest return. About 68 percent of realtors recommend painting walls and 62 percent recommend paint touch-ups.

Did you know Great Goats offers painting services during the winter months?  Contact us today for a free estimate!

There are a lot of things to think about when preparing to tackle a painting project.  Here are a few tips to help you get started:

Interior paint – select warm neutral colors

Neutral colors make it easier for potential buyers to imagine themselves living there because the paint goes with just about anything. Many buyers also don’t want to shell out extra cash to paint after closing.

Using beiges, tans, golds, grays and “greige”—a blend of gray and beige is a good way to create an inviting space. Avoid white because it is too stark.

Know which rooms to prioritize

Paint is the simplest, most effective, and most transformative way to change a space, the right kind of paint can make a small room look bigger and a cavernous room look smaller.

Tiny rooms can appear bigger if you paint with a lighter color. If you paint the trim and the walls the same color, you create the illusion of larger space. If you have a big room that you’d like to appear smaller, use a warmer or darker color which will also give the space a cozy feel. Lighter, neutral colors always photograph better because they make a room feel brighter.

The best places to focus on painting are your kitchen, bathrooms, entryways and foyer.

Paint types matter

Paint is more than just color. Different finishes and sheens can effect how the paint color looks, how easy a wall is to clean, and other factors.

Here are some good tips:

  • Stick to flat or eggshell sheens on broad walls, as they will not show off the nail pops and unevenness in walls as much as a satin will.
  • Satins and semi-gloss coats are better for durability and stain resistance.
  • Use semi-glosses on the trim and doors to make it easier to clean dust and handprints.
  • Use eggshell or semi-gloss in the bathrooms where there might be moisture and don’t forget to paint the trim and ceiling, not just the walls.