Landscaping Grand Rapids

How to get the most out of your Grand Rapids landscaping this Spring!

What every Grand Rapids homeowner should know about landscaping and gardening?

What Every Gardener and Landscaper Should Know…
It’s all about the soil! Whether you have containers or a plot in the ground, over time the soils become depleted of nutrients. Every spring container soils should be replaced and amend the garden with leaf compost.

Keep the Garden Growing With…
Slow release granular AND liquid feeding.

Everyone Should Avoid…
Over mulching of woody ornamentals is never a good thing. This creates a mulch volcano that keeps the bark moist and eventually rots the bark preventing the nutrient exchange and kills the plant.

For Months and Months of Flowers…
Always save room for perennial favorites Gaillardia ‘Lemons & Oranges’ and Geranium ‘Rozanne’. I’m a sucker for Hydrangeas; ‘Limelight’ and ‘Tardiva’ provide a stunning supply for the late summer and fall months.

For Containers That WOW…
Always have these three ingredients: the filler to take up space, the spiller to cascade over the sides of the pot, and the thriller to give height to the arrangement.

Winter Pruning Grand Rapids Area MI

WHY WINTER PRUNING AT YOUR HOME IN THE GRAND RAPIDS AREA?

Dormant pruning of deciduous shrubs allows a close look at the “bones” to see rubbing branches & dead wood for removal.
Thinning of the interior improves air circulation & plant health.
Improve the form and structure of the plants.
Pruning often helps rejuvenate plants.

CALL TODAY FOR A PRICE QUOTE!

Plant your bulb for Spring

West Michigan winters are very harsh. After a long and gray winter in Grand Rapids, it is nice to see some color when the snow and ice melts away from your beds. Now is the time to plant bulbs for great Spring flowers! Planting your bulbs now in your west Michigan yard will result in beautiful flowers in Spring.

Grand Rapids, MI – is your lawn dead or dormant?

Save your lawn West Michigan! Want to LOVE your LAWN again?

Tan and dead looking lawns have become all too common this summer.

According to MSU Turf Studies the best way to restore west Michigan turf is to aerate, overseed, and topdress with soil.

For large areas topdressing is not necessary.

There is hope, but it will take some work!

Need help with your lawn Grand Rapids? Call Monsma Landscape and Maintenance TODAY (616) 868-5767 to talk to the professionals

Grand Rapids, keep your yard green!

Drought like conditions in Grand Rapids!

All of us have seen the transformation all around us. Lawns and plants have gone from lush green to toast in a very short time.
Yes, we need rain very badly but you can help by bumping up the sprinkling. With the heat lately you may need to actually
double your sprinkling times to keep things looking good.

Remember that a slow deep soaking is more beneficial that a quick blast that will probably flow away from the plant. Some plants like Coreopsis are prone to mildew if they stay wet too long, so don’t water them late in the day. The same goes for turf. Early morning watering is best. You may want to hit it again 12 hours later making sure it can dry before dark. One drawback to watering in the heat is water loss through evaporation. Timing is everything… when you water will effect the amount you water.
Another option would be to keep sprinkling at the same time but double the duration.

Attention…property owners in Grand Rapids, due to this long hot spell without rain, make sure to raise your blade when lawn mowing to avoid your grass from scorching or burning in the hot sun.

Keeping it green,
Dan

Permeable Pavers, Grand Rapids, MI

Management of stormwater has become a hot topic and could be the next profit center for your business. Landscapers who install paver patios and walkways already can know the principles behind attractive hardscapes. They can point
their clients to product lines that absorb rainfall while reducing runoff and promote the earth friendly benefits of these systems.

BENEFITS:

Stormwater runoff reduction
Through the use of permeable pavers in driveways and parking areas the amount of stormwater that reaches water treatment systems can be reduced. This will save money for municipalities.
Aquifer recharge
Porous pavements detain stormwater and allow it to slowly add to the ground water levels and mimic the natural water cycle.
Pollution control
Paved surfaces used for vehicle traffic accumulate pollutants that flow into streams and lakes with the stormater. Permeable pavers filter suspended solids, nutrients, and metals through the crushed stone base and aid in the breakdown of contaminants.
Cost savings
Experience has shown that even though the initial installation costs more,permeable pavers have maintenance costs that are 30% less than asphalt.
Cooling effects and looking cool
Permeable pavers that are sown with grass seed have a lower surface temperature than asphalt. Porous pavers look great! The open areas of these pavers can have soil and grass seed added to give a very unique look.ver 90% of rainfall events are of half an inch less. Much of this rainfall

Over 90% of rainfall events are of half an inch less. Much of this rainfall can be handled by permeable pavers. By showing your clients the benefits
you can add more green to your bottom line.

Dan Monsma

Source: Paveloc Industries, Inc.

Great lawns in Grand Rapids and West Michigan!

Lush, dense, green turf is want everybody wants. At MLM that’s our goal too!

With the right balance of soil, nutrients, water and timely mowing a great lawn in Grand Rapids and West Michigan can be yours!

Garlic Mustard in West Michigan…invasive plant!

What started as culinary spice from Europe that is now an invasive weed taking over West Michigan?

Garlic Mustard. When you see it, pull it roots and all and throw it in the trash. Better move fast because it’s going to seed very soon!

Pruning and blooming Flowers in Grand Rapids MI

Prune now for a bountiful bloom. Your spirea and Limelight hydrangea should be pruned now for a better flower show this season!

Continue reading →

Growing Season is COMING!!!

Pro Tips

By choosing drought tolerant and, in some cases, native plants, property owners can reduce the amount of fertilizer and water needed to have plants look their best. Another way to reduce water use is with a rain gauge connected to your irrigation system.

Hello Fellow Gardeners!

An EXTRA special thanks for giving us the opportunity to serve your needs! Also a hardy shout out to the MLM team- they are the ones that turn our plans into reality. We are truly grateful that you have chosen MLM as your outdoor service provider. Let our newsletter be your early taste of Spring!

Invincibelle Spirit
Here’s one for you hydrangea lovers! Invincibelle Spirit is a brand new hydrangea from Proven Winners. It is the world’s first pink ‘Annabelle’ hydrangea. Invincibelle blooms on new wood. This means late freezes and fall pruning won’t result in loss of flower buds. It blooms continually from early summer until a hard frost. Invincibelle reaches 3′-4′ tall. Also, Proven Winners will donate $1 to the Breast Cancer Research Foundation for each shrub sold. Ask Dan for more information on how this Proven Winner can add beauty and value to your property.

Spring is right Around the Corner

Spring might not come fast enough for a lot of us, but it’s only a couple months away. Time to start planning spring cleanups, the first fertilizer applications, and new landscape projects. We’ll be there to help you with it all! Give us a call today!

Plant Feature:

False Indigo (Baptisia Australis)
Members of the Perennial Plant Association have voted Baptisia Australis as the 2010 Perennial of the Year. This plant has an abundance of characteristics that have made this a favorite of gardener’s for years: gorgeous purple-blue flowers, hardy, wide adaptability, drought-tolerant, native, non-invasive, relatively pest-free, butterfly attractant, and is not bothered by rabbit or deer! Wow! Baptisia Australis does best in full sun and well-drained soils or tended gardens. It does not divide or transplant well due to it’s long taproot. Native Americans used the plant for a wide range of medicinal purposes. Baptisia Australis is called “False Indigo” because it was used as a dye substitute in place the superior True Indigo of the West Indies in colonial times. Ask us how this gorgeous, low-maintenance plant can get your neighbors talking…in a good way!

Container Gardening

Do you need to spruce up a corner of a deck or patio? Could your front entry be more welcoming? Container gardening can do all that, with arrangements for each season! We can supply a container or use yours, call for an early spring quote today.